As part of their “Contested Spaces” series, The Conversation has pointed out the desire of older adults to have more meaningful interactions with public spaces. Places such as parks and beaches seem like fun for everyone, but when they lack certain amenities, many people miss out on the enjoyment.
Some requests mentioned in the article are for seemingly simple but easily overlooked items, like benches and railings. Parks that only offer seating in the grass can seem unfriendly to people who have a difficult time getting up and down, or who need frequent rest breaks when walking. Other desires were for public restrooms, a factor that can decide a person’s ability to visit at all, and for wider, clearly marked paths to keep bicyclists and those on leisurely afternoon strolls from blocking each others’ paths.
These simple details are easily overlooked by people who do not have specific needs, but it is important to be inclusive of everyone’s accessibility when it comes to spaces that are designed to be enjoyed by the entire public. Read more about the desires of older people in public spaces at the source, here.
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