Grandfather and grandson holding hands, walking down the sidewalk. by JayBerm

As we grow older, we never want to forget that feeling of fast cars and freedom. But will our communities grow and adapt with us? Or will we have to pack up and move to a new community that accommodates our needs as we age? The City of Lawrence likes (Facebook thumb up) the first option.

As of September 2011, the City of Lawrence and Douglas County have created a Retiree Attraction Task Force to address ways in which the city and county can effectively promote Lawrence as an attractive location for retirees and those 50-plus to call home. Our streets play an integral part in the attraction index of a community and although Lawrence has countless, stunning, natural qualities like the autumn trees, Mount Oread, and the people (let’s not forget the people); our streets could use some “sprucing” up.

We want our community to be livable. More importantly, we want our community to be livable for all ages. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one in five Americans will be 65 and older by 2025 (and according to the calculator on my smartphone, that’s 62 million Americans).

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has proudly endorsed the planning concept of Complete Streets for several years, and the organization’s research has revealed a strong link between community engagement and successful aging. In its most recent national report on ‘Livable Communities,’ “50.05 Beyond: Creating Environments for Successful Aging,” the AARP defines community livability as “how the physical and social environments can promote independence among individuals and strengthen the civic and social ties among them.” The livability of a community depends in part on options that allow residents of all ages and abilities to connect with their communities. Having transportation options and an accommodating, built environment contribute to maintaining independence and to people feeling they have control over their own lives.

Let’s face it, we love our independence and we always want to be able to do things on our own. Like when we wake up at 5 a.m. on our 16th birthdays to catch the first spot in line at the DMV, knowing all too well that this is not just a license to drive, but a license to freedom. Then a few weeks later, anxiously awaiting the mailman to hand you an envelope from the DMV, tearing it open (mom begging you to use the proper utensil specifically invented to open envelopes) to find that piece of plastic and your mouth drops, “Oh the horror!” You see yourself, a painfully, awkward and sleep-deprived mess of a 16 year-old.

And now, although tough to admit, it’s quite the process to get in the car to run an errand. It no longer feels like an errand, but a project that lasts half a day. Driving becomes daunting, but we don’t want to be stripped away from our independence (kids begging us to hand in our keys forever). Though as natural as the autumn trees come and go, when we age, our mobility and coordination go right along with it.

So what can we do to create an environment for successful aging? Repaving is not always the answer. In fact, Complete Streets can be extremely cost effective and even the simplest change can positively influence the attractiveness of the roads around our community.

“Increased crosswalk time, better lit roads, reduced speed limits, and more sidewalk seating” are just a few easy solutions the City of Lawrence can implement, said Rebecca Holmes, Project LIVELY (Life, Interest and Vigor Entering Later Years) Coordinator for the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. A major goal of Project LIVELY is to help keep older adults safe and independent in their homes and community by delaying premature nursing home placement.

“Complete Streets include many safety improvements that will allow my clientele to utilize the roads safely, increasing their ability to remain independent and active members in our county”, Holmes said.

Planning and retrofitting the built, travel environment for an aging population is just one way we can enhance community livability. Ensuring that our community members are able to age successfully is important to the City of Lawrence and Douglas County. Lawrence Complete Streets commits itself to preserving that nostalgic feeling of fast cars and freedom for seniors and strives to maintain a supportive, healthy, and safe transportation network for all ages and abilities.

Lawrence Complete Streets is a campaign based in Lawrence, KS to educate citizens about the benefits of enacting policies that consistently create safe transportation networks for all users.

Lawrence Complete Streets is a LiveWell Lawrence initiative. To learn more about Lawrence Complete Streets, go to www.lawrencecompletestreets.com