Pawtucket Senior Center aims to build Inter-generational outdoor space

The Leon Mathieu Senior Center located at 420 Main St. in Pawtucket will soon develop of an outdoor space to promote healthy aging by encouraging community members of all ages to go outside, socialize, and engage in physical activity.

This project is made possible through two sources of funding: an AARP Community Challenge grant and a Community Development Block Grant, which will be split with the Pawtucket Housing Authority.

Funding  from the AARP Community Challenge grant – money awarded to quick action projects that enable communities to build livable spaces for all ages  – will  specifically be used to landscape the currently underutilized area outside of the center. This process will entail adding raised gardening beds that will allow for an increased capacity to incorporate horticultural therapy, as well as purchasing a tabletop for a bevy of games such as chess, checkers, and backgammon.

The center plans to use the funds garnered from the Community Development Block Grant to purchase a two or three pieces of fitness equipment for the space that will provide people with the opportunity to exercise outdoors in a space conducive to socialization, promoting both physical and emotional well-being.

To learn more about this exciting project, read this article published in the Valley Breeze.