Get Out and Enjoy the Community

Nearly 2.5 million North Carolinians live in areas that have joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

Elected officials in these cities, towns and rural areas have pledged to prepare for an aging population by improving factors that affect the health and well-being of older adults.

One such factor is use of outdoor spaces. This spring, AARP North Carolina is hosting events across the state to improve parks, community gardens and other places where people gather for recreation and relaxation.

AARP invites members and their friends to get community gardening tips at Wilmington’s Azalea Festival, April 11-15; burn calories at multigenerational fitness walks; and conduct walk audits of their neighborhoods to ensure sidewalks are up to par and signal lights allow enough time for crossing.

Go to aarp.org/walk-audit for a walk audit tool kit. For community updates, go to agefriendlyNC.org.