Considerations for Age Friendly features on Sidewalks & Trails Public Comment from Mary Wallace Aimee Brunckhorst
From: Mary Wallace <maryw@myglaciervillage.com>
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2024 3:08 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment; Ryan Hunter; Chad Graham;Jed Fisher
Subject: EXTERNAL Considerations for Age Friendly features on Sidewalks &Trails
Good Day! I read with great interest about theSIDEWALK AND TRAILS ASSESSMENT DISTRICT SUB-
COMMITTEE meeting tonight after the City Council meeting.
I am on the Board of Directors of My Glacier Village, a local non-profit that supports and empowers seniors who are
aging independently in their own homes. We have an ongoing project that strives to raise awareness about the
challenges and advantages of area seniors. Our Agewise Flathead project includes civic involvement where possible,
and since your committee is working on assessment of our city sidewalk and trails, we wanted to ask you to consider
a few senior-friendly features that could also be implemented.
I read with alarm in today's DAILY INTERLAKE a comment from one of the Council members at the previous
meeting who remarked that seniors may not use the walkways and therefore might not liketaxpayerdollars to fund
improvements. We would like theCouncil to consider that seniorsmay very well like to use our city's walkways and
trails if only they WERE more age-friendly..
Thank you for reviewing the following Age Friendly features in your assessment process and ask the City Council to
at least consider incorporating the ones they can going forward. Of course we understand that adding ALL of these
features may add to the cost of any improvement project and it may not be possible to implement ALL of them at this
time. But we are great supporters of the philosophy of'doing what we can, starting from where we are' . If we don't
ask, these age-friendlyfeatures may not become a part of yourprocess.so we are respectfully asking.
CHECKLIST OF AGE-FRIENDLY FEATURES - OUTDOOR SPACES
FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY
Safe Sidewalks - well-maintained, cleared, non-slip and accessible.
Sidewalks are continuous, with low curbs that accommodate wheelchairs
and scooters.
,//'- Accessible benches - (at appropriate height, with arms), located along sidewalks,
or paths and spaced at regular intervals
Snow removal -prompt and considerate of seniors, young families
Allows seniors/young families to get in and out of cars
Keep major intersections and curb sides clear of snow and ice for seniors,
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wheelchairs or strollers
,/'- Streets and Parking lots are well-maintained, well lit and cleared of snow and
ice.
Shade and Rain shelters - available to support pedestrians.
Public washrooms - accessible, can accommodate those with a variety of
disabilities* and are conveniently located with proper signage that is clear, bold print, and easy to read.
Members of our group would be glad to attend a meeting or work session to answer any questions or share statistics
on our aging population in our nation, in our state, and in our county. There are more seniors than one might think
(approx 20% of the population) and that number is expected to grow exponentially between now and 2030. Thank you
again for considering our request to consider this growing demographic in your assessment and planning for our local
sidewalks and trails.
Sincerely,
Mary Wallace, Board Member
406-261-7253
www.myglaciervillage.com
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