Towards all-age-friendly city

towards

All-Age-Friendly City

by Sylwia Bięga | sylwia.biega@umelblag.pl

Designing an all-age-friendly city that takes into account the needs and interests of all generations might sound challenging, but the good news is that the needs and interests of children, young people and older adults are often complementary.

All residents appreciate high quality and age-friendly infrastructure, accessible and low cost transport systems, smooth pavements with safe pedestrian crossings and benches to take a rest. Such improvements are already being implemented. Elbląg has recently added 102 new benches and improved pedestrians’ safety and modernised tram lines. This helps to encourage residents’ mobility and participation in public life. Nevertheless, an age-friendly city needs to go far beyond infrastructure.

Public space to build intergenerational trust

What is fundamental for creating all-age-friendly city, is to ensure the shared sense of community, in particular with regards to public spaces, where all residents are welcome and can feel the sense of belonging. Integrated planning should build community cohesiveness and trust.

With that in mind Elbląg has created the Open Activity Zone, intergenerational public space to encourage beneficial opportunities for interactions between children, young people and older adults.

Usually municipal parks, although open to all age groups, have some age-based boundaries: children occupy play

grounds, youngsters are attracted to sport fields and gymnastic equipment whereas relaxation zones are filled with older people.

The concept of intergenerational park, such as Elbląg Open Activity Zone brings a new focus to social contacts. It is a place meant to foster social connections and participation through trust-creating actions that are free and held in natural environment. It is set in a municipal park, a well-maintained and safe green space, with easily accessed seating and bicycle stands. Various walkways through an invigorating and diverse landscape intersect the part, there are no walls or gates. They are utilized by people of all ages: runners, mothers with strollers, adults and children.

The park encompasses an outdoor fitness area enabling general development workout, table tennis facilities, and relaxation area with benches among flowerbeds and trees as well as a playground with educational games such as mills, twisters or hopscotch.

Elbląg Open Activity Zone is getting ready for the summer season’s family festivals, tournaments and everyday strolls that are proven to positively contribute to our wellbeing and improve living standards.