Over a year ago, Mayor Donald R. Grebien officially signed a resolution, marking the beginning of an important process. The signing ceremony, held on September 16, 2024, in the City Council Chambers, was attended by local leaders, community advocates, state officials, and members of the Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council.
The resolution to join the nation’s Age-Friendly network was approved by the City Council after being in development for more than six years. It highlights Pawtucket’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for residents of all ages, from the very young to the elderly.
The Age-Friendly network helps participating communities engage with older adults and their caregivers through surveys and assessments. Based on the feedback received, communities develop action plans to enhance livability for all ages by adopting features such as safe, walkable streets, better housing and transportation options, access to key services, and opportunities for civic and community participation.
The initiative is built around the World Health Organization’s (WHO) report, Global Age-Friendly communities: A Guide in 2017, offering municipalities an action plan, identifying eight “domains for living” to create more welcoming communities for older adults. These domains are implemented and assessed in three phases over five years, with continuous cycles of improvement thereafter. The domains are:
1. Outdoor spaces and buildings
2. Transportation
3. Housing
4. Social participation
5. Respect and social inclusion
6. Civic participation and employment
7. Communication and information
8. Community support and health services
AARP launched its U.S. Age-Friendly Network in 2012. By 2014, New York City became the first U.S. city to join the WHO Age-Friendly Cities network. By 2017, Rhode Island became the first U.S. state to officially adopt the Age-Friendly Communities framework. In 2025, AARP will commemorate the 1,000th U.S. municipality joining the Age-Friendly Network, marking a significant milestone in the movement to make communities more welcoming for older adults.”
Pawtucket’s effort involves a large-scale collaboration between the Mayor’s Office, the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, other city departments, Age-Friendly Rhode Island, the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), and various local organizations. Together, they will oversee data collection and the creation of an Age-Friendly blueprint for action.
Pawtucket Becomes Official
Last week, Mayor Grebien, along with members of the City’s Age-Friendly Task Force and AARP Rhode Island, formally announced Pawtucket’s efforts to join over 1,000 communities in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Globally, over 1,500 cities and towns across more than 51 countries have joined the WHO Age‑Friendly network, illustrating the reach of this movement.
With the kickoff of the press conference, Pawtucket joined other Rhode Island cities—Newport, Cranston, Providence, Westerly, and Bristol—in this growing initiative.
Mary Lou Moran, Director of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center and Pawtucket Senior Services, served as master of ceremonies. She welcomed over 90 attendees and introduced the initiative, “Age-Friendly Pawtucket: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future,” along with a panel of speakers.
“This is an exciting day as the city commits to addressing aging across the lifespan and ensuring we provide appropriate services, support systems, and opportunities for families and caregivers,” said Moran.
A key component of the press conference was the launch of a community needs assessment and survey, designed to gather direct input from residents to help guide the development of the action plan. Moran encouraged attendees, especially older residents, to participate in the survey. “We need your input to help us build a community that promotes health and wellness for all ages,” she said.
Catherine Taylor, State Director of AARP Rhode Island, explained the core philosophy behind the Age-Friendly movement: “If you make a city great for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, you make it great for everyone. That’s the age-friendly lens Pawtucket is using.”
AARP Rhode Island President Elizabeth Howlett, former Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, emphasized the importance of volunteerism and the role of community members in the survey process.
James Connell, Executive Director of Age-Friendly Rhode Island, noted that the aging population in Pawtucket and across Rhode Island was a major driver for embracing this initiative. “Rhode Island is one of the few states where there are more people age 65 and older than under 20,” he said. “This is something to celebrate. It’s an opportunity to assess needs, meet challenges, and create goals and visions for healthy aging.”
Beth Roberge, President of the Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council, shared a personal perspective on aging while advocating for the initiative: “Life doesn’t end when you reach a certain age. It’s just another stepping stone.”
Jeanne Cola, LISC’s Executive Director, called for Pawtucket’s older residents to participate in the survey, stressing that the data collected would drive the city’s planning and policies, rather than relying on assumptions. “Let your voice be heard. If you don’t participate, you don’t get what you want,” she said.
Mayor Grebien closed the event with a light-hearted remark: “Now that I’ve turned 58, I truly understand the importance of the Age-Friendly Initiative.” He expressed excitement about the opportunities that would emerge from this effort.
Comments from the Crowd
“The support shown at the kick-off event by AARP leadership, Mayor Grebien, and so many organizations across the City was just amazing,” said Maureen Maigret, policy advisor for the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI). “Now, the work begins as the Task Force reviews the survey data to identify which areas to target for initial efforts.”
As a Pawtucket native, Maigret was thrilled to see the city’s Age-Friendly designation come to fruition. She had previously served as a consultant for Newport 4 All Ages, Rhode Island’s first Age-Friendly Community.
“I was so energized by the turnout at the Age-Friendly designation event in Pawtucket,” said Carol Anne Costa, Executive Director of SARI. “And kudos to Mary Lou and her team. The day demonstrated the power of community. Advocacy depends on citizens speaking and acting in their own best interests. Pawtucket’s work shows that older adults are ready to make Rhode Island a state that promotes healthy aging.”
Age-Friendly Pawtucket Task Force Members
· Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council
· Pawtucket Commission on Arts & Culture
· Blackstone Valley Community Action Program
· Blackstone Health, Inc.
· Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition
· Gateway Healthcare/Brown University Health
Resources:
1. Step-by-Step Toolkit for Creating an Age-Friendly Community Start the process of becoming an age-friendly community by following this guide: Age-Friendly Toolkit [shared.outlook.inky.com]
As part of AARP Rhode Island’s ongoing Livable Communities initiatives, the state’s largest aging organization will launch a series of “Walktober” events next month in collaboration with America Walks, local elected officials, municipal departments, planners, outreach specialists, volunteers, and community groups. The effort will feature neighborhood walks and walk audits across Providence. Accessibility is a priority, ensuring that people using mobility aids are included.
According to AARP Rhode Island, walking through neighborhoods allows volunteers to document and report infrastructure issues such as missing or uneven sidewalks, unsafe crosswalks, inadequate lighting, and the lack of benches, shade, and green space. These findings will help shape proposals for community improvements. The goal is to raise public awareness and highlight the importance of well-designed, well-maintained, and inclusive sidewalks, curb cuts, bump outs, and pedestrian-friendly spaces that contribute to a thriving community.
AARP Rhode Island notes that Walktober is a collaboration between the nonprofit and America Walks has organized nearly a dozen free, engaging community events aimed at helping residents appreciate walking as an enjoyable and healthy alternative to other means of getting around.
They Walk Their Talk
Taking part in Walktober is internationally known “multidisciplinary walking artist” and mobility justice activist Jonathon Stalls, who founded Walk2Connect (now Walk America) in 2012 after completing a 3,030-mile walk across the nation in 2010. Stalls will join America Walks board member Garrett Brumfield, a disability rights advocate and popular “sit-down” comedian, at the kickoff event scheduled for Wednesday, October 8. The event begins with a free “connection walk” at 5:00 p.m., followed by a free public walk, talk, book signing, and reception at the Providence Public Library.
Stalls, a respected author, wrote WALK: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1–3 Miles Per Hour. The 240-page book, published by North Atlantic Books, is a collection of essays exploring the benefits of walking—for both individuals and communities—and how walking can be transformational. Attendees will receive a free copy.
Over the years, Stalls has documented his long walks, including a 200-mile trek from Providence to New York to explore how built environments affect communities, especially marginalized residents who cannot or do not drive. Walking, he argues, reveals how public spaces can become safer and more inclusive for all. At national and international conferences, Stalls advocates for transportation systems that prioritize pedestrians and calls for incorporating mobility justice into urban planning.
Joining him is Garrett Brumfield, a Roanoke, Virginia resident and disability rights advocate living with cerebral palsy. He calls for improved public transportation, mobility infrastructure, and community planning that make cities accessible to all—older adults, wheelchair users, and families with strollers alike.
On LinkedIn, Brumfield explains:“It is my mission to use my story and my experiences of living with Cerebral Palsy to help others overcome whatever obstacles stand in their way. Whether your obstacle is big or small, permanent or temporary, I believe you have the power to overcome it. The steps may be small, and the journey may be long, but I guarantee it’ll be worth it. I’m overcoming mine—how will you overcome yours?”
Also known as a sit-down comedian, Brumfield uses humor to break down barriers and promote empathy and awareness around disability issues. His performances challenge stereotypes and encourage new perspectives about what people with disabilities can do.
Brumfield serves on the board of Walk America, based in Seattle, Washington, which advocates for walkability, accessibility, and disability rights nationwide. He completed his Walking College Fellowship through America Walks in 2017 and has since become a mentor in the program, while collaborating on initiatives to improve walkability and “rollability” across the country.
Walking Audits in Providence Neighborhoods
As part of Walktober, AARP Rhode Island has scheduled additional walks and audits throughout October. On October 9, a Broadway Walk/Roll Audit will take place, along with other events including a Comedy Walk & Roll with Brumfield and a Glow Stick Walk/Roll Dance Party.
Other Walktober walks are being hosted by Village Common Walking Group, Providence Preservation Society and Ocean State Center for Independent Living.
Through AARP’s 2025 Community Challenge grants, Providence’s Age-Friendly PVD initiative is funding four walk audits in neighborhoods with high concentrations of older adults to identify pedestrian safety challenges.
“AARP Rhode Island is pleased to work with so many community partners and with America Walks to promote access and safety for walkers and rollers of all ages and abilities,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor. “Walktober is truly a celebration, and we hope, at times, an inspiration as well as a wake-up call, as walk audits throughout the city reveal barriers and unsafe conditions that need to be addressed.
Added Taylor, “Walking is great exercise, and as walking groups become more and more popular, they serve as an opportunity for socialization that is very important to many people as they age.”
Here is How It Works…
According to AARP Rhode Island, walk audits involve participants walking through neighborhoods and noting infrastructure issues: missing or uneven sidewalks, unsafe crosswalks, poor lighting, or lack of benches and shade. Participants then document and report their findings so changes can be proposed and considered.
The events are meant to be inclusive, with accessibility a top priority. Walk audits not only identify safety concerns but also raise public awareness and encourage cities to take action.
Over 60 years ago, boredom at a family backyard gathering on Bainbridge Island in Washington State led Congressman Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum—and their families—to invent a new game. Using an old badminton court, they improvised with table tennis paddles, a plastic wiffle ball, and a lowered badminton net. From these modest beginnings, pickleball was born, with rules blending elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis.
Today, the sport is played by two or four players on indoor or outdoor courts. Competitors use smooth-faced paddles to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high net until one side fails to return the ball or commits a rule infraction.
According to Pickleheads, a digital hub for pickleball players, there are over 21,985 pickleball courts in 8,970 cities across the United States. In Rhode Island, there are 61 pickleball locations with a total of 246 courts. Of these, 40 locations—with 166 courts—are public and free to use. Rhode Island ranks 58th in the nation for the number of pickleball courts.
The Sports and Fitness Industry Association reports that , from 2021 to 2024, pickleball became the fastest-growing sport in the nation. Two years ago, CBS Sports reported that 36.5 million people nationwide had played pickleball at least once.
On August 8, designated National Pickleball Day—just before the launch of AARP’s national Pickleball Clinic Tour—the Washington, D.C.-based aging organization released a study exploring older adults’ awareness and participation in the sport. A free Clinic Tour event will take place at Pickleball Citi in Cranston on Wednesday, August 27.
The survey found that nine in ten (91%) adults age 50+ have at least heard of pickleball, and more than half (55%) are either familiar with it or have played at least once. About one in ten (13%) report they have played the game.
According to the survey, when asked which activities have gained the most popularity among people their age in the past two years, 40% of adults 50+ selected pickleball—more than double the second most popular choice, walking/jogging (18%). A third (33%) of older adults familiar with pickleball expressed interest in learning more from experienced players.
A Sport for Families, Friends, and Generations
One of the sport’s biggest attractions is its ability to bring families and generations together. Among 50+ adults familiar with the sport, 81% said pickleball is a game people of all ages can enjoy together. More than half (52%) cited spending time with family and friends as a key benefit. Of those who play, 56% reported playing with family members and 48% with friends.
Pickleball also helps older adults expand their social networks. The AARP study revealed that 71% of 50+ adults familiar with pickleball view it as a great way to meet new people. In fact, 20% of those who play said they have played with individuals they first met at the court.
Beyond fun and socialization, pickleball provides meaningful health benefits. Nearly eight in ten (78%) older adults familiar with the sport say it is a great way to stay physically fit, and nearly nine in ten (87%) consider exercise a major advantage of playing. Two-thirds (67%) also say the sport helps them stay mentally sharp.
Stress relief is another benefit, cited by 46% of respondents. And for many, the simple joy of play matters most: three in four (75%) said pickleball is fun.
“We know that pickleball is particularly popular among our Rhode Island members and the state’s 50 and older population,” said AARP Rhode Island Associate State Director for Community Outreach Darlene Reza Rossi. “It checks so many boxes on the list of activities that can allow people to live healthier lives as they age. Aside from the obvious physical benefits, learning a new skill is an essential element of brain health. And the social part the game provides is another brain-health benefit.
“So, AARP Rhode Island all in when it comes to introducing more Rhode Islanders to pickleball because it aligns with our mission of empowering people to choose how they live as they age and our healthy living series, that includes free, online RI Healthy Cooking, Tai Chi/Qigong, Everybody Dance! And Laughter Yoga.”
AARP Pickleball Clinic Coming to Rhode Island
On August 8, AARP launched its 2024 Pickleball Clinic Tour to 20 cities nationwide to promote active aging and multigenerational play.
For Rhode Islanders, AARP will host a free Pickleball Clinic at Pickleball Citi in Cranston on Wednesday, August 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. Participants must sign a General Liability Waiver.
The event will feature an Intro to Pickleball clinic and open play, led by licensed instructors in an inclusive, welcoming environment. Open play will follow a drop-in format, allowing players of all levels to practice in a real game setting. Instructors will help match players by skill level, ensuring both beginners and experienced players can enjoy the sport, meet new people, and stay active.
Registration is free and limited to the first 100 people. To register, visit: www.aarp.org/RIEvents..
In addition to learning the game, participants will also discover AARP’s “Six Pillars for Better Brain Health” and explore opportunities to connect with AARP Rhode Island programs in their community.
So grab a paddle, bring your family or friends, and join the fun—pickleball might just become your new favorite way to stay active, healthy, and socially connected.
Herb Weiss 