Senior Parks: Healthy Aging by Design Paperback – December 15, 2025

Why have we spent decades designing parks for toddlers and athletes while ignoring the fastest-growing population that needs them most?Senior Parks: Healthy Aging by Design confronts this long-standing oversight with clarity, urgency, and a practical path forward.As communities face rising rates of chronic disease, dementia, isolation, and mobility loss among older adults, this book presents a bold and evidence-based reimagining of what public outdoor spaces can—and must—do to support healthy aging.A Call to Action for Cities, Planners, Aging Services, and Public Health LeadersAdults over 65 will soon represent nearly a quarter of the U.S. population, yet most public parks still treat older adults as passive spectators rather than active participants. The result? A preventable gap between how long we live and how well we live.Dr. Sue M. Paul—occupational therapist, public health advocate, and founder of SeniorScapes™—makes it clear: senior-friendly parks are not amenities. They are a public health necessity.What You’ll LearnGrounded in research, universal design, and real-world case studies, this comprehensive guide reveals how outdoor environments can support all six tenets of healthy aging:physical activity, cognitive health, emotional well-being, social engagement, chronic disease management, and nutritional health.Inside, you’ll discover:A robust Senior-Friendly Park Design Matrix backed by current researchDementia-friendly strategies embedded throughout every design decisionStep-by-step implementation guidance for planners, architects, agencies, and aging-services leadersPractical tools including templates, checklists, and outcome measuresReal case studies with budgets, lessons learned, and replicable modelsFunding resources and partnership strategies to bring senior parks to lifeClear and compelling evidence explaining the need, benefits, and science behind each recommended featureTransform Your Community’s Approach to AgingFrom walking loops and sensory pathways to cognitive stations, social nodes, green infrastructure, and universal design, Senior Parks provides a blueprint for creating inclusive public spaces where older adults can move, think, connect, and thrive with dignity.This book is both a guide and a movement—an invitation to rethink public spaces so communities can support longer lives and better ones. It’s time to stop treating aging as an afterthought and start designing parks that honor the people who built our communities.If you care about public health, urban design, aging services, or the future of your community, this book will change the way you see every park. Read more