Park Equity and Aging Populations: How to Make Parks Inclusive and Accessible for Elderly Community Members with Madeline Brozen

In this episode, Mel Pennett and Alex Davis interview Madeline Brozen on aspects of park equity and making parks inclusive for seniors.  Madeline is the Deputy Director of the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies at the Luskin School of Public Affairs  and co-wrote a report detailing guidelines for making inclusive parks for elderly and aging populations. They discuss the importance of design, perception, and the surrounding demographics to make parks inclusive, equitable, and fun places for not just the elderly, but everyone! 

Highlights from the Conversation:

• Urban Planning and Park Equity
• Everyone should have access to a park, we innately need to connect to nature
• Access to parks - can individuals easily use it?
• Who is the park for? Who does it serve? 
  • Race, Ethnicity, Language, Age, Ability, Cognitive Ability, Physical Mobility, and other identity attributes can contribute to feelings of exclusion.
• As Urban Planners, how do you design for inclusivity and shifting needs?
• Concepts of park design: physical design, passive recreation, active recreation, designated areas, low-impact exercise equipment, playground equipment, bathrooms, perception of park’s purpose, planting, and landscaping.
• Successful parks are designed for those with the highest needs, but provide benefits to all ages and demographics.
• Basic resources vs amenities.

Guest Mini Bio:

• Madeline Brozen has a background in Transportation Planning
  • Previously focused on complete Streets
• Is currently the Deputy Director of the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies at the Luskin School of Public Affairs
  • Her Institute of Transportation Studies bio is here
  • Also check out her other published works
• Her Linkedin profile is here

Learn More!

• Case study parks: Golden Age Park in Los Angeles, California, Portland Memory Garden, in Portland, Oregon.
• Here is the report that inspired this interview
  • Placemaking for an Aging Population: Guidelines for Senior-Friendly Parks
• Play By Design’s website for inclusive playgrounds for aging populations
  • A Wellness Playground for Elders
• An article about the Golden Age Park mentioned in the interview
  • An outdoor oasis for Angelenos in their golden years

Credits:

Special thanks to Madeline Brozen. Research, concept, and voices: Alex Davis and Mel Pennett. Intro and Outro voice: Alex Davis. Produced by: Raven Nee.