PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Mayor Brett Smiley alongside city officials and AARP representatives announced Providence’s new Age-Friendly Action Plan Friday. Officials said the three year initiative is aimed at making the city more inclusive and livable for older adults by focusing on transportation, housing, and community engagement. At the press conference at the Saint Martin de Porres Center Smiley said the city will make a commitment to making improvements that benefit residents of all ages. “We’re gonna continue to not just make sure that those spaces are well kept but also that they’re more accessible,” he said. “If you make a city great for an eight-year-old and an eighty-year-old, it’s a great city for everybody.” The Age-Friendly Action Plan was developed in partnership with AARP and local organizations, with transportation and housing improvements listed as the top priorities. The groups said the main goal was to address key challenges faced by older adults, such as limited access to transportation, affordable housing, and opportunities for social participation. “I just want to say how personal this is for me, I live in Providence, and I am an older adult, so I am really excited to benefit from this plan,” AARP State Director Catherine Taylor said. The transportation and housing improvements are the first areas of focus for the rollout, and officials said the city will work closely with local partners to implement the changes. Categories: News, Providence, Rhode Island