Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lesly Ferris
Among the biggest challenges in creating programming for residents ages 60 and older are first overcoming the “senior” stereotype, and then identifying activities that appeal to their interests and abilities.
Kent Park and Recreation in Connecticut coordinates a monthly senior-trip program, thanks in large part to a municipal transportation grant, which makes possible free transportation via the rural transit district bus. Travel is limited to the state’s 169 cities and towns, and the 16 passengers on the bus must be town residents. Participants pay for lunch and admission charges.
Destinations And Dining
Since the program began in fall 2006, destinations have included historical sites, like the Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe House and Roseland Cottage; art museums, such as the Wadsworth Atheneum and New Britain Museum of American Art; interactive adventures like the Mystic and Norwalk Maritime Aquariums, Beardsley Zoo and Elizabeth Park Rose Garden. One of the most popular trips is a December evening outing to view area holiday light displays. Some trips feature shopping at nearby malls, outlet centers, the Ocean State Job Lot and Christmas Tree Shops, while others include train rides, boat cruises and outside dining during the summer. Daytime trips include lunch (Olive Garden and Bertucci’s are two favorite restaurants), and no outing is complete without stopping for ice cream.
