Harmony in Motion: A Mother-Daughter Journey Toward Healthy Aging Through Parks and Fitness

Designing parks for healthy aging isn’t just about compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; it’s about ensuring that all ages, abilities, and interests are considered.

As we age, our physical needs and desires evolve, but one thing remains constant: the need for connection and community. My mother Shelly and I have witnessed firsthand how thoughtfully designed parks and recreation spaces can support healthy aging. My job as a landscape architect brings with it a passion for equitable access to quality parks and open spaces inspired by my mother’s insistence on movement and time outside to sustain healthy aging. Moved by this shared value, I have spent my career designing outdoor spaces that encourage inclusivity and promote physical activity.

At 72, my mother is a testament to the power of continued movement and social engagement in maintaining health and vitality. An icon of healthy aging, my mother held several certifications until the age of 68: Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Senior Fitness Specialist, and Certified Zumba and Zumba Gold Instructor. Our shared journey emphasizes how parks, when designed with aging in mind, can become important hubs for physical wellness and human connection.

A Design Rooted in Lived Experience

My park designs are shaped not only by my education and experience but also by my mother’s lived experience. Her experience teaching Zumba and group fitness to older adults was a role that required her to adapt constantly to the evolving needs of her students, many of whom had significant health challenges. Her ability to modify classes and encourage inclusivity was a key part of her work, and my park designs aim to mirror that adaptability, with spaces that support seniors at every stage of their aging journey.
In my opinion, designing outdoor recreation spaces for healthy aging is about ensuring that all ages, abilities, and interests are considered. The challenges that my mother faced as a fitness instructor—accommodating for varying mobility and ensuring comfort for seniors who perceive the built environment differently—are things that I now think about as I envision civic spaces that are essential to the well-being of our communities.
The places that I design often incorporate elements that satisfy the unique physical needs of aging adults, from smooth walking paths and wide, accessible parking spaces to areas for joint-friendly activities. One example is a durable, open lawn for tai chi, yoga, and Zumba Gold, a lower-impact version of Zumba that's designed for an older population. Moderate and intentional changes in the rise of the ground plane help promote balance and coordination. Warning strips and the use of contrasting colors minimize user anxiety as depth perception is often compromised. Integration of equipment designed for resistance exercise and to improve range of motion are popular. Drawing from my mother’s experiences, I know how important it is to design spaces that encourage movement without risking strain, injury, or confidence.

Resilience and Adaptability

Shelly’s journey as a fitness instructor was more than just a workout—it was about creating a space for seniors to connect with each other, get active, and build confidence. Even after retiring from teaching due to the impact of COVID-19, she remained committed to staying active and connected with her community.

To quote my mother, “Even though I no longer teach, I still try to stay active, whether it’s walking, stretching, or simply getting outside. The challenge is ensuring that parks have the space and accessibility to allow for these activities. Parks shouldn’t just be pretty places to look at—they should be places that encourage movement, connection, and health.”

We both agree that fostering inclusivity is key. My mother’s story of working with seniors mirrors the design decisions that I make for parks: the importance of considering how spaces can be used by people of all abilities. Whether it’s providing benches where seniors can rest, overhead shelters for shade and gathering, or incorporating wide-open spaces for yoga and tai chi, community spaces must be designed to offer opportunities for physical activity while fostering human connections

Creating Spaces for All Generations

I remember when my mother said she wanted to stay active so she could “get down on the ground to play with my grandkids” – she has done just that and I’m grateful.

The bond I share with my mother is a testament to how thoughtful park design can encourage intergenerational connections. My mother’s desire to remain active as she ages has influenced my design philosophy—one that aims to create spaces where people of all ages can come together to relax and enjoy their community. I remember when my mother said she wanted to stay active so she could “get down on the ground to play with my grandkids” – she has done just that and I’m grateful.
During the design process, I also use principles of inclusivity and “universal design,” two concepts that go beyond mere compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. For an aging population, inclusivity and universal design speak to concepts such as compromised cognitive function, poor depth perception, reduced response time, slower reflexes, and others. When it comes to parks, universal design can be best illustrated using the following seven principles:

Principle 1: Equitable use
Principle 2: Flexibility in use
Principle 3: Simple and intuitive use
Principle 4: Perceptible information
Principle 5: Tolerance for error
Principle 6: Spectrum of physical effort
Principle 7: Size and space for approach and use

Each of these principles plays a fundamental role in promoting healthy aging by creating inclusive spaces that encourage physical activity and social engagement for older adults. As highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing loneliness epidemic, parks and civic spaces facilitate social connections by providing communal areas where older adults can interact, helping to combat isolation and enhance mental well-being. Nodes of activity defined by a variety of places to sit, picnic areas, tables for games, and shade bring seniors together to strengthen their social networks.

For me, the goal is clear: create parks that prioritize accessibility, inclusivity, health, and connection. My mother’s ability to engage with seniors through dance and fitness serves as an inspiration for my own work, guiding me to think about how parks can facilitate not only physical activity but also mental health and social engagement. From level walking loops to spaces for gentle exercise or social gatherings, these activities not only benefit seniors but also create opportunities for folks of all generations to interact and enjoy the outdoors together.

I’ve seen for myself how important it is for seniors to have places where they can exercise, relax, and socialize. Parks are more than just open green spaces—they are places for people. They are hubs to gather, engage, and stay healthy. And that’s what we want for aging adults: spaces where they feel welcomed, supported, and inspired.

Parks and civic spaces facilitate social connections by providing communal areas where older adults can interact, helping to combat isolation and enhance mental well-being.

Key Elements for Aging Adult-Friendly Park Design

To foster healthy aging, parks must meet a range of practical and physical needs. I’d like to highlight several essential features of park design that are vital for seniors, including:

• Smooth walking loops that are easy on the joints and accessible for people using wheelchairs or walkers, or for visitors anxious about navigating uneven surfaces or winding, disorienting paths.
• Shade and places of rest have become necessary to protect outdoor enthusiasts from a warming climate. Benches below canopy trees or pergolas can provide respite from the heat and offer a place to rest.
• Community gathering spaces, such as areas for programmed group exercise classes or informal social interactions.
• Inclusive design features like wider parking stalls, no-step pathways, clear and readable wayfinding signage, appropriate lighting, visual cues for orientation and navigation.
• Functional design elements, such as good sound systems for outdoor music or exercise classes, public Wi-Fi and charging stations, and carefully designed spaces that offer both shelter and access to natural surroundings.

My mother’s experiences also show that creating a park environment that encourages daily use is key. Movement needs to be part of the daily routine, so access and convenience are essential. When parks are easy to get to, with safe parking and clear paths, seniors are more likely to use them regularly, while poor access keeps people indoors.

When parks are easy to get to, seniors are more likely to use them regularly, while poor access keeps people indoors.

Designing Parks as Catalysts for Healthy Aging

Our continuing mother-daughter journey proves that park design is not just a technical exercise—it’s deeply personal. My mother’s experiences and my career as a landscape architect have shaped our shared vision: parks should be spaces that cater to seniors’ physical needs while fostering a sense of community, engagement, and well-being. Properly thought-out and designed parks offer a certain level of “joie de vivre” no matter the user.

As we continue to advocate for park designs that encourage healthy aging, we hope to inspire others in the field to think about how parks can contribute to healthy, active, and connected aging. The parks of tomorrow must not only meet the needs of today’s seniors but be flexible and inclusive enough to support future generations.

Join Us for a Journey of Inspiration

To sum up, our story is a testament to the power of movement, thoughtful design, community, and resilience. Together, we hope to inspire others to create parks that serve as true catalysts for healthy aging—places where individuals of all ages can come together, stay active, and enjoy the benefits of an outdoor lifestyle.

Even properly designed pools, like those with zero entry areas and ramps, can provide seniors with places where they can exercise, relax, and socialize.