Dec. 27, 2010 --Through its Livable Communities initiative, the Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services - in partnership with two organizations that are leading advocates for older Americans - received two prestigious awards in a 2010 global competition for best practices to improve the quality of life for all people.
Its partners were the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services and AARP New York.
“Livable Communities: A Vision for All Ages - Bringing People and Places Together” won a Silver Award in the competition’s “Socio-Economic Programs” category and a Bronze Award in the “Whole Cities” category. “Whole Cities” entries are determined by a region’s population so in some cases it includes counties.
The United Nations-endorsed International Liveable Communities Awards are presented by LivCom, which sponsors the world’s only international competition for Livable Community projects. Its goal is to recognize international best practices to manage the local environment such as heritage management, environmentally sensitive practices, community sustainability, healthy lifestyles and planning for the future.
The multi award-winning Livable Communities: A Vision for All Ages – Bringing People and Places Together initiative is the signature project of the county’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS), and is spearheaded by Commissioner Mae Carpenter. Carpenter said the department collaborated with the county’s Department of Planning and Geographic Information Systems in the Department of Information Technology to develop parts of the project.
At the LivCom conference in Chicago, Carpenter joined Lois Wagh Aronstein, AARP’s state director, and Will Stoner, associate state director, in giving half-hour presentations before a panel of international judges to show how AARP’s tools and resources added value to the Westchester project. Their presentation, which was streamed live on the Web to countries around the world, also showed how this model can be replicated throughout New York State and globally. Fifty countries competed in the annual event.
Because of the difficult global economy, contest organizers say there is renewed interest in sharing best international practices on ways to improve living standards.
AARP New York considers Westchester County to be a national “laboratory” for the project since it began in 2007. DSPS had built networks of nine regional Livable Community Connection sites throughout the county as well as Livable Community Villages where “neighbors helping neighbors” is a way of life.
Villages are groups of volunteers such as civic organizations, houses of worship and neighborhood associations united by a common goal. Today there are 150 villages in the county with 15,000 members.
This infrastructure is used by community volunteers and “stakeholders” to enhance and promote the livable communities concept. Stakeholders include elected officials, members of the business community and groups from houses of worship and nonprofit organizations.
AARP supplemented this work with educational and advocacy tools to expand and strengthen its development.
Livable Communities enable seniors to age in their homes with independence, dignity and civic involvement. Among their features are services provided by volunteers such as health and wellness programs, education and cultural events, accessible and adequate transportation, personal safety, consumer protection and advocacy for issues such as affordable housing.
The Complete Streets “walkability” survey in April had the county, the Public/Private Partnership and AARP teaming up to evaluate the safety and accessibility of the county’s sidewalks, roads and traffic intersections for pedestrians. More than 125 volunteers surveyed 14 intersections in nine municipalities to assess conditions such as whether there are properly marked crosswalks, unbroken sidewalks and traffic lights that allow enough time for people with limited mobility to cross the road.
Safe Streets make communities more livable for people of all ages, but are crucial for parents holding the hands of young children or pushing infants in baby carriages, individuals who use wheelchairs and, of course, seniors.
This survey was part of AARP’s state-wide, week-long “Complete Streets” audit, and the findings were used to underscore the need for “Complete Streets” legislation, which has already been introduced in Albany.
The county’s Livable Community Connection sites have compiled findings from streets and intersections in the county in a report for elected officials.
Carpenter, who describes the Livable Communities initiative as a “grassroots empowering tool,” is recognized nationwide for her expertise on issues that affect seniors and the quality of their lives. Under her
leadership, AARP has named Westchester’s Livable Communities initiative one of three such models in the United States.
“It has been a special privilege to work with AARP to develop the livable community concept in Westchester County,” Carpenter said. “Their trailblazing work and vision are extraordinary. It is more important today than ever before to develop Livable Communities because the population is aging rapidly.
It also is crucial because cuts in federal and state budgets do not cover the increasing need for services.”
Aronstein also hailed the collaboration between DSPS and AARP New York.
“AARP New York is proud to have shared in this prestigious honor with the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services,” she said. “This unique partnership has resulted in safer streets and engaged citizens, legislators and community leaders. It has made Westchester County a more livable and accessible place to call home.”