Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
People need public places to gather — indoors and out. Green spaces, seating and accessible buildings.
Benches - The town needs benches for everyone to rest and enjoy the views
Planting Trees - Shade keeps the town and people cooler and the birds happy
Walk Audits - AFC helps identify hard to navigate sections of sidewalk in priority corridors.
Benches Add Mobility
An age-friendly community is one that is livable for people of all ages and abilities. . When you create accessible areas for seniors, people of ages enjoy them.
It took more than a year of cooperation between Age-Friendly Carbondale, The Parks and Rec Department, Building Department, Life Care Centers (corporate for Heritage Park), Heritage Park residents and two generous donors.
Heritage Park residents told us they wanted to remain mobile but needed a bench under a shady tree to walk the trail behind their home. Our volunteers walked the trail with residents and located a suitable spot. We also contacted the Building and Parks and Rec Departments to enlist their cooperation.
One of our volunteers is well versed in Universal Design. She helped our city departments create a design that would have two conversational benches and space for a wheelchair. The Town’s Building Department contacted Life Care Centers and obtained an easement on the property.
Age Friendly Carbondale was a 2022 winner of the AARP Challenge Grant. Along with a grant from the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation, we created a conversational corner in a newly donated Carbondale Park in memory of one of our founding members.
Walk Audits
Since 2019, we have completed periodic walk audits of Carbondale’s designated Priority Corridors.
A walk audit was the catalyst for still ongoing improvements to 8th Street.
Walk audits were instrumental in doubling the town’s sidewalk-maintenance budget.
Eighty-five percent of 2022 recommendations have been completed
COMMON HAZARDS:
Uplift
Depression
Overhanging branches or shrubs
Icy/Unplowed
Planting Trees For Schoolchildren
Trees are friendly to people of all ages and abilities. Each Spring , we plant trees at local schools to shade the buildings and play areas, using the planting as an enjoyable opportunity to teach children about environmental stewardship.
Tax deductible donations of any amount are welcome on our Support page. Please attach a comment indicating what your donation is for. For more information about this project, please email Illene Pevec.