This month, several NRPA staff had the opportunity to attend the 2025 Age & Action Conference hosted by the National Council on Aging (NCOA). The gathering brought together advocates, service providers and community leaders from across the country to explore how we can collectively support aging well in the United States.
Park and recreation professionals play a vital role in helping older adults thrive in the communities where they live, learn, play and age. The conference provided an opportunity to highlight that role and explore new ideas and considerations for the future!
One standout session, An Architect’s Perspective on Designing Senior Centers, offered practical and inspiring insights into how physical spaces, like community centers, recreation centers and even parks, can support healthy aging. Presenters Chris Wante, AIA, and Doug Gallow, FAIA, NCARB, emphasized the importance of engaging community members — especially older adults — in the design process. By asking simple but thoughtful questions, such as what types of activities people want to participate in (scheduled, drop-in or outdoor) and what barriers they face in getting to the facility, we can design spaces that truly serve and connect the community.
The session also emphasized the need for flexibility — creating spaces that can accommodate evolving programming needs, future technology and equipment and multiple uses throughout the day. Key design considerations that were recommended included the ease of modifying spaces by using movable furniture, having significant storage and prioritizing how spaces can support dignity and comfort for individuals with vision, mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments. Acoustics, clean lines, wide corridors, reduced floor patterning, comfortable furniture and adult changing tables in restrooms were just a few of the specific details called out.
Location and accessibility — particularly safe, well-designed parking — were also highlighted as essential. And perhaps one of the most compelling points: when communities invest in modern, welcoming senior or wellness centers, older adults show up. Case studies from Massachusetts and Ohio revealed that new or renovated centers saw significant increases in membership — some doubling or tripling in use after reopening.
The conference also featured NRPA’s own work in this space. Natalia Ospina, NRPA senior program manager leading our Healthy Aging in Parks initiative, presented a poster session titled "Intentionally Intergenerational: How Do We Do It?" Ospina highlighted recent NRPA research on how park and recreation agencies across the country are supporting older adults through a wide range of programming and services. The session explored how agencies foster social and intergenerational connectedness and promote NRPA’s Seven Dimensions of Well-Being — cultural, economic, emotional, environmental, intellectual, physical and social.
Ospina’s poster summarized the findings that informed NRPA’s new Healthy Aging Framework, supported by the RRF Foundation for Aging, offering examples of innovative strategies from park and recreation agencies nationwide that are advancing holistic well-being for older adults. Her session was a powerful reminder that intentionality and community voice are key to creating spaces and programs where all generations can thrive together.
One of the most impactful elements of the conference was a special photography series celebrating NCOA’s 75th anniversary. “This is 75” captured the vitality, purpose and connection that defines aging today. The series aimed to challenge outdated stereotypes about older adults by highlighting real stories of people thriving in their communities—dancing, hiking, volunteering, connecting with family and friends, and engaging fully in life. One quote featured in the display resonated deeply: “We age not in years, but by stories.” – Maza Dohta. It’s a reminder that aging isn’t just a biological process; it’s a rich tapestry of lived experiences.
For those of us in parks and recreation, these takeaways reinforce our essential role in promoting the health and well-being of older adults. Our spaces are already places of connection, activity and purpose — and with continued investment and thoughtful design, they can be even more.
As we reflect on the insights shared at the conference, let’s continue to lift up the voices and stories of older adults — and reaffirm our commitment to building age-friendly communities where everyone can belong and thrive.
Natalia Ospina is a senior program manager at NRPA.
Allison Colman is senior director of programs at NRPA.