422 – Everybody Plays: A Best Practice Guide to Multigenerational Design

As our population continues to age, communities must continue to stay livable and usable to all because the reality is that we’re designing these communities for our future selves. According to the World Health Organization, by 2050, 2 billion people will be over 60. Everybody Plays takes a look at the evolution of the aging population and age-integration trends. Specifically, we will examine how intentionally designed parks contribute to healthy lifestyles (physically and mentally), keep users engaged in society, reduce isolation in older adults, meet the needs of younger children, and provide engagement at all stages. Through best-practice design elements, we can create park and play spaces that go beyond access but provide enriching and engaging experiences for all so that we can continue to learn from each other, combat ageist beliefs, and most importantly, allow everybody to play.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the necessity of intergenerational spaces and their importance in all communities as our population ages, and how we can offer shared sites as a solution to ageist beliefs and promote active contribution opportunities.
- Articulate best-practice design elements to support users of all ages to use every park space, focusing on fitness experience, nature engagement, playable art, and functional facilities.
- Understand how to best support users as they engage with their little ones in the play space.