Age-Friendly Winter Spaces: Ideas for Municipalities to Embrace Winter (Guide)

Through grant funding, collaboration, and technical support, communities across Massachusetts have an opportunity to support residents of all ages in remaining physically active and socially engaged this winter. See this new guide outlining potential strategies for communities developed by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative and WalkBoston. Below, you can find great examples of communities that embrace winter spaces and activities:

• General Winter Placemaking and Activities Guides:
  • Patronicity – Winter Activation Ideas for Main Streets & Neighborhoods
  • Bloomberg/ CityLab – How to Make the Most of COVID Winter 
  • 8 80 Cities – Wintermission Program and Community Engagement Reports
  • International Downtown Association (IDA) Advancing Places: Winter City Design Webinar

   

  Winter-Friendly Walking:

  • WalkBoston Recommendations for Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal
  • Salem 2020 Sidewalk and Paving Program
  • Salem for All Ages Sidewalk Master Plan
  • American Planning Association – Age Friendly Rural Planning Spotlight on Jackson Hole, Wyoming to Make Downtown More Walkable
  • Sand for Seniors Initiative in Biddleford, Maine – Bringing Buckets of Salt & Sand to Older Adults to Prevent Slick Walkways

   

  Transforming Business Districts & Main Streets:

  • North Adams Winter Places Project
  • New Bedford Downtown Winter Transformation
  • Winter Strategies for Downtowns and Business Districts in Michigan
  • Snowport at the Seaport
  • Light Up the Night Initiative in Downtown Lansing, Michigan

   

  Light and Outdoor Art Displays:

  • Five Festive Holiday Light Displays To Enjoy By Car Or On Foot
  • Marshfield Holiday Light Show
  • Winter Lights on Cape Ann
  • Medfield’s Winter Lights Display
  • ZooLights at Stone Zoo
  • The Magic of Lights at Gillette Stadium 

   

  Potential Funding Sources:

  • MassDOT Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Grant Program
  • MassDOT Complete Streets Program
  • Community Compact
  • Tufts Health Plan Foundation
  • AARP Community Challenge Grants
  • Social Health Labs Community Microgrants
  • Barr Foundation

   

  Other Guides to Consider:

  • WalkBoston Resources
  • Massachusetts Age- and Dementia-Friendly Integration Toolkit
  • Healthy Aging for All Guide for Promoting Inclusion in Age- and Dementia-Friendly Communities
  • Mass Cultural Council Community Resources