Macon-Bibb Celebrates 10 Years as an Age-Friendly Community

AARP joined members of the community on Saturday for Macon-Bibb’s 10^th anniversary celebration of being an Age-Friendly Community.

The celebration took place at Tattnall Square Park in Macon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Macon Mayor Lester Miller was among those in attendance. AARP Georgia State Director Debra Tyler Horton spoke at the event.

“Ten years ago, leaders in Macon, working together with AARP Livable Communities – established Macon-Bibb County as the first Age-Friendly Community in partnership with the World Health Organization. They committed to the work and the vision necessary to make Macon-Bibb County a great place for everyone to live, regardless of their age or physical circumstances. Macon-Bibb was the first – the very first – community in America to obtain this age-friendly status,” Tyler Horton said.

Membership in the growing global Age-Friendly Community initiative means that your elected leadership made the commitment to actively work toward making this a more inclusive community, as well as one that is considerate of all residents of all ages and of all persuasions.

Over the past 10 years, community leaders, partner organizations and elected officials have collaborated and emphasized pedestrian safety, increased funding for transportation initiatives, adopted a “complete streets policy” ordinance, and taken steps to provide transitional housing for the area’s homeless.

One hundred communities across Georgia have earned the age-friendly designation. More than 700 communities across the United States of America now have the age-friendly designation.

About AARP AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media