Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today officially introduced the first Age-Friendly Table for Connection at Cedar Lane Park West in Columbia. Ball was joined by Howard County Council Chairperson Deb Jung, Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) Director Jackie Scott and Department of Recreation & Parks Director Nick Mooneyhan. Photos of the event can be seen here.
The Tables for Connection are part of the ongoing work to make Howard County a more livable community for all ages, a product of the Age-Friendly initiative we kicked off in 2019. This new technology will help us connect digitally, support sustainability, access critical resources online, and fully enjoy our beautiful outdoor spaces, here Cedar Lane Park West, as well as Martin Road Park.
The Tables for Connection features Wi-Fi hot spots, charging portals for devices, and are solar-powered. The tables will help community members of all ages access information and resources digitally, expand access to free Wi-Fi in public places, and encourage the exploration and support of neighborhood parks.
“Our Office on Aging and Independence works very closely with the departments of Recreation and Parks, Technology and Communication Services and many other county departments on implementing the work of the Age Friendly initiative that promote accessibility,” said Scott. “Age-Friendly guides the implementation of resources like Tables for Connection and ensures that Howard County continues to evolve as a great place for all ages.”
In 2019, Ball launched the Age-Friendly Initiative, joining AARP’s large network of age-friendly states and communities. Howard County began working to implement AARP’s eight domains of livability, which include:
- Outdoor spaces and buildings
- Transportation
- Housing
- Social participation
- Respect and social inclusion
- Civic participation and employment
- Communication and information
- Community support and health services
Howard County has installed two Tables for Connection in Columbia, one at Cedar Lane Park West at 5081 Cedar Lane, and one at Martin Road Park at 6701 Martin Road. The spaces will be enhanced with the planting of local foliage by the Office of Community Sustainability later this year.
“I’m always excited and proud when new resources come to the heart of Howard County, especially in the district I represent. The residents of Harper’s Choice and many others will make good use of a Table for Connection,” said Jung.
Howard County’s Action Plan includes 80 recommendations along the AARP’s eight domains. As part of the Outdoor spaces and buildings domain, Howard County expanded a, now nationally recognized, bike lane connecting neighbors to Blandair Regional Park.
“At Recreation and Parks, we strive to make our parks a place for all by delivering recreation and leisure opportunities that improve the health and well-being of the community, and serve as stewards of the environment by managing, protecting, and conserving resources,” said Mooneyhan.
In the domain of Housing, Howard County has put forth HoCo By Design, the county’s new General Plan that addresses increasing housing options for older adults and persons with disabilities.
To make Howard County more age-friendly, two local 50+ centers have recently been unveiled with new amenities. The Bain 50+ Center underwent a massive renovation, increasing its size by seven percent to 25,000 square feet. The newly opened East Columbia 50+ Center is a new structure that boasts a fitness room, a commercial kitchen, and a technology hub for virtual programs.
Morgan Spliedt, Livable Communities Program Manager for the DCRS’s Office on Aging and Independence, provided a demonstration of the new round blue table.
“The Age-Friendly Tables for Connection are state-of-the-art, solar-powered and accessible, meaning they can accommodate a wheelchair. These tables expand free public Wi-Fi, charge all your devices, and help you connect to resources and information, while relaxing outdoors.”
Guided by the Age-Friendly Action Plan, the tables cross multiple domains of livability determined to help ensure residents of all ages can live in a safe and healthy community.
For more information on Age-Friendly Howard County and how to get involved, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/agefriendly.