New Providence Age-Friendly Community
Submitted by Patricia Jacobs, New Providence-Our Community For All
During the 1st Anniversary Party of New Providence’s Age-Friendly effort held on June 17, 2021 in Centennial Park, Mayor Al Morgan made an announcement to the crowd: New Providence is proudly only the 17th municipality in New Jersey to be recognized by the World Health Organization through its American affiliate, AARP, as an Age-Friendly Community. This designation not only recognizes the hard work put forth by the volunteers of New Providence- Our Community For All, as they served older adults during the pandemic and later conducted a town-wide Livability Study, it also recognizes the commitment of the town to keep an age-friendly lens on planning for the future. As Councilperson Pete DeSarno said “We want New Providence to be not only a great place to grow up, but a great place to grow older.”
In her official letter to the Borough, AARP Executive Vice President, Nancy LeaMond stated: “The AARP network of age-friendly states and communities provides a structured process that guides change and serves as a catalyst to educate, encourage, promote and recognize improvements that benefit residents of all ages and life stages. Enrollment in the network provides member communities with the resources to become more age-friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models and best practices. Thank you for being among the nation’s local leaders who have committed to improving their community for people of all ages. We look forward to working with you and welcome the Borough of New Providence to the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.”
AARP State Director, Stephanie Hunsinger said in her proclamation of the designation: “To really step up and meet the challenge, we need a kind of transformation in the way communities see themselves – in the way they are planned, designed, and the supports they offer. Because turning a community into a place that is truly age-friendly requires a fresh way of thinking.”
A group of about 60 residents, both volunteers for the age-friendly work in New Providence, and grateful recipients of these volunteers’ efforts, had gathered in the park to listen to live music from the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra, and bear witness to this announcement. Many present were grateful for the first projects the group has undertaken. Residents of Barabash Manor, across the street, were enthusiastic about the in-ground deck built this spring by an Eagle Scout, Thomas Horan, with much support from the group. “Thank you so much for caring about us,” one resident said.
In addition to Mayor Morgan, three speakers recognized and thanked the volunteers of the age-friendly work that began in 2019: Renie Carniol, of The Grotta Fund for Senior Care, and Council people Pete DeSarno and Michele Matsikoudis all spoke with gratitude about the hard work the volunteers did to connect older adults with all generations during the pandemic, and the pilot programs they have conducted using insights from the Livability Survey in 2020.
As Stephanie Hunsinger concluded, “To achieve this kind of transformation, we need local leadership. So today, I commend and congratulate your local leaders for having that vision and leadership to spearhead this age-friendly initiative. AARP would like to thank the New Providence community with a special thank you to Mayor Al Morgan, the Borough Council, Allison Smith, Director of Community Activities, Patricia Jacobs, Executive Director of New Providence-Our Community For All, and all Board Members of New Providence Our Community For All: Bill Hoelfing, Pete DeSarno, Tom Montrone and Michele Matsikoudis. AARP is looking forward to continuing our work together.”
Allison Smith, New Providence Community Activities Director, will lead New Providence in the second year of the Age Friendly Initiative. Bringing the age-friendly work into the borough government is the natural evolutionary step for this initiative and will add sustainability to the town’s age-friendly efforts.
Photos by New Providence-Our Community For All
