From community centers to community events, park and recreation departments are an essential provider of older adult programs and services. NRPA has conducted research to understand the role of park and recreation spaces and services to support older adults and foster social and intergenerational connections.
Research and Initial Findings
NRPA researchers conducted interviews with staff at five park and recreation sites. The discussions centered on the kinds of older adult programming their agencies offer, how these programs provide opportunities for social and intergenerational connections, perceived gaps/challenges, opportunities and emerging trends, and how park and recreation agencies are uniquely positioned to support healthy aging.
To read more about the approach and an overview of the case studies, click here.
To view each case study click here.
Applied Knowledge and Grants
In 2025, four geographically diverse agencies received grant funding from NRPA with the support of RRF Foundation for Aging to develop a new intergenerational program in their communities based on the findings described above. With financial support and using the pathways in NRPA’s Healthy Aging Framework, these communities achieved extraordinary results in their efforts to intentionally bring generations together.
Map Legend – (1) Orange: agencies involved in initial research findings; (2) Teal: agencies that received grant funding
