"Here are three steps that would make our cities work for people of all ages."

Jeff "Swish" Gahan takes three down the middle of the plate -- and the bat never left his shoulder.

Maybe it's time for some seasoning in the minors -- say, from about January 1, 2020.

Click through to read the entire explanations, and while you're there, explore the good sense on display at Strong Towns. Team Gahan probably has blocked the site.

Want a city that works for people of all ages? Take these 3 steps, by Rachel Quednau (Strong Towns)

Growing older shouldn't have to mean relocating from the community and neighborhood you love, but in so many American cities which are oriented around cars instead of people, seniors end up relegated to suburban apartment complexes or become increasingly isolated in homes they can't manage. Simple adjustments to the way we structure our cities and neighborhoods could change that scenario and in turn, make life a whole lot happier, healthier and easier for everyone.

Here are three steps that would make our cities work for people of all ages:

1. Make cities safe and easy to get around without a car.

2. Create housing options that work for people of all ages and abilities.

3. Build communities that give people purpose and meaning.

"Older adults desire accessible urban housing, too; developers should pay attention."

Of the facilities under construction, the senior living rehab at M. Fine, on Main near Vincennes, comes nearer to matching this paradigm than the one on Grant Line Road (a few hundred yards of conceivably finished sidewalk away from Wal-Mart, poor devils).

But there's not much in terms of immediately walkable destinations either place. The walk along untamed Grant Line wouldn't be very pleasant, even if Community Park is nearby. On Main, the dining options are 12 blocks away, downtown, and there are no nearby grocery stores except the dollar emporiums on Vincennes.

In reprinting these survey findings, Strong Towns had this to say:

“In your town, are there neighborhoods where three generations of a family could reasonably find a place to live, all within walking distance of each other?”

And:

If we primarily build senior housing on the fringes of our cities, then that's where seniors will "choose" to live. If we, instead, build senior housing next door to other sorts of central city housing, we'll stop leaving our elders stranded in suburbia and create those intergenerational neighborhoods that help build strong towns.

Some day in new Albany, we'll be debating matters like this in terms like these. Until then, it's monetization, grandma.

Seniors want walkability, too, survey says, by Patrick Sisson (Curbed)

Older adults desire accessible urban housing, too; developers should pay attention

We assume millennials prefer walkability and urban living for all the right reasons: social cohesion and community, better access to entertainment, services, and jobs. So why do we assume that older Americans and senior citizens, who also value connectivity, community, and healthy living, wouldn’t prefer the same living arrangement?

According to a new study by A Place for Mom, a nationwide referral service, the Senior Living Preferences Survey, older Americans value walkable urban centers. The survey asked 1,000 respondents nationwide about their living preferences, and a majority said it was very important or somewhat important to live in a walkable neighborhood, as well as one with low crime that was close to family.

“It’s time to abandon the idea that only millennials and Generation X care about walkability and the services available in dense urban neighborhoods,” says Charlie Severn, head of marketing at A Place for Mom. “These results show a growing set of senior housing consumers also find these neighborhoods desirable. It’s a trend that should be top of mind among developers.”

Park demographics: "Many public spaces like parks are currently lacking age-friendly infrastructure."

"No seniors on the artificial turf, please."

Warren, as City Hall's token senior ... would you like to weigh on on this one?

ARE PARKS ALIENATING THE AGING POPULATION? by Emily Matlovich (Strong Towns)

If you stroll through a park you’re likely to find a dog fetching a frisbee, children playing on the equipment, teenagers jogging with headphones, and families having picnics. What you're less likely to find is senior citizens.

For the first time in human history the amount of individuals aged 65 and older will surpass the population under the age of 5. To put this into further perspective, by the year 2050, a third of the U.S. population will be 65+. Despite urban planners' best efforts to accommodate this demographic phenomenon, many public spaces like parks are currently lacking age-friendly infrastructure. This means that seniors miss out on the physical and social benefits that parks can provide.