June 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 42

INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION
edge each other. Take note in natural
gathering places like schools and
community centers - invite folks
to be involved and included, drop a
flyer off, take steps to connect with
those folks in the neighborhood that
may be at a greater need for inclusion,
and welcome them. "
Taking those first steps by making
connections in the community
can be important. " Don't let the
barriers stop you. Just be open, be
curious, think of how to do things
differently, build on things that already
exist. Simple curiosity is the
first step - create an opportunity
for openness. It starts building
from there. "
Small Steps Toward
Large Impact
Park and recreation professionals
can pioneer intergenerational
programming by creating a bridge
to allow connection in new ways
that enhance physical and mental
health outcomes. As Cohen mentions,
take that next step to broaden
the barriers and age limitations set
on most programming - remnants
of our " strict " generational definition.
Two older adult recreation
centers are continuing to work toward
doing just that.
The Ontario Senior Center in Ontario,
California, has been a space
for intergenerational connection in
various ways. One way is through
staffing. Most staff running the
center are 20 to 30 years younger
than the 50 and older population
they serve. This age gap gives older
adults a daily experience of interacting
with younger generations as
soon as they walk through the center's
doors. The community takes
pride in coming to the center to
enjoy the staff's creative programming,
different
perspectives and
their ability to be a resource, which
keeps them connected to the world
around them. This interaction promotes
the breakdown of ageist biases
for staff and participants and
is reflected in the center's programmatic
offerings, such as the Active
Seniors on the Go program. In this
program, instructors use positivity
to motivate older adult participants
to be mobile, active and social in
supporting their health and wellness.
The program has challenged
preconceived notions both
staff
and participants had about older
adults' abilities and interests.
In small steps toward intergenerational
programming, the
Ontario Senior Center has weekly
bingo games open to community
members ages 21 and older,
along with special activities that
are open to all ages, such as excursions.
These opportunities allow
older adults to bring friends
or family of various ages, which
encourages all to enjoy and learn
together. To see generations within
one family interact with each
other and all the other attendees
around them enriches the experiences
by simply sharing them.
The Malley Recreation Center
in Englewood, Colorado, caters
to healthy aging programs for the
50 and older population. For the
past 10 years, the Malley Center
has been connecting older adults
with local fifth graders through a
pen pal letter program from September
through April each school
year. The goal of this program is
to assist students in strengthening
their writing skills while receiving
support from an older adult volunteer
in the community. Shelly
Fritz-Pelle, recreation supervisor,
mentions that their grandparents
are raising some of these students,
and others may not have any contact
with older adults. At the end of
42 Parks & Recreation | JUNE 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
the year, all gather for a pizza party
to meet their pen pal in person
and celebrate a year of connecting
through
written
correspondence.
" Some of these friendships that
have formed continue to be maintained
many years later, " notes
Fritz-Pelle.
In addition, the Retirement Support
Group at the Malley Center
- now known as the " Stayin'
Alive Support Group " - plans to
pilot a mentoring program with the
local schools. This program will assist
students in developing skills to
master key concepts. By bringing
these generations together, social
bonds are created, and stereotypes
regarding aging fall away.
Cohen mentions being
intergenerational
drawn
to
connection
because she had a personal experience
with a family member who
suffered from social isolation and
loneliness. " If we see the people
around us and we know how to
connect, we are going to make
more of an effort to be sure those
people do not get lost. "
Intergenerational connections
will heal the world. What better
place to spark this healing than
in our community centers, recreation
centers, schools, workplaces,
neighborhoods and homes?
SEE ALSO: Parks and Recreation:
The Secret to a Long, Healthy Life?,
Allison Colman, Parks & Recreation,
May 2019, Vol. 54, Iss. 5, tinyurl.com/
msujuh2k.
Nancy Baum, M.S., CPRP, is Recreation
Supervisor at Malley Recreation Center,
City of Englewood (Colorado) Parks,
Recreation, Library and Golf (nbaum@
englewoodco.gov). Samantha Ochoa,
M.A., is Senior Recreation and
Community Services Supervisor at
Ontario Senior Center, City of Ontario
(California) Recreation and Community
Services (samanthaochoa@ontarioca.gov).
http://tinyurl.com/msujuh2k
June 2024 – Parks & Recreation

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