The City of Encinitas is developing a comprehensive Age-Friendly Action Plan aimed at enhancing livability, accessibility, and well-being for residents of all ages and abilities.
With generous funding from the San Diego Foundation, the city is partnering with San Diego State University Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity (CEAL) and AARP as part of the Age Friendly Encinitas initiative. This collaborative effort is designed to a more inclusive and age-friendly community, according to a news release.
A key component of this initiative is a community baseline survey that invites residents to share their lived experiences, challenges, and ideas for improving quality of life in Encinitas.
Led by the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department, the Age-Friendly Encinitas Initiative seeks input across several key areas including outdoor spaces, mobility, community engagement, and health and wellness.
The survey will be available from June 2 – Aug. 15, both online and in paper format at various locations throughout Encinitas. The survey and more details are available on the city webpage: www.EncinitasCA.org/AgeFriendlyEncinitas. Following the survey, a series of community listening and learning sessions will be held in the fall to gather additional input.
The Age-Friendly initiative was brought forward by the Senior Citizens Commission, led by Chair Lambert Ling. He states in the news release: “Our mission has always been to enhance the quality of life for the adult 50+ community, so receiving acceptance into the Age-Friendly network with a certificate from Israel Hernandez means a lot to this commission. As the City of Encinitas takes its first steps towards becoming a truly Age Friendly City, we are proud to be participants in this process. Thank you to our City Council and Mayor Ehlers for having the vision and insight to commit to this initiative, and to the staff of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts for their hard work and unwavering toward making this a reality. A special thank you also to the San Diego Foundation for providing the funding for the technical assistance that allows us to begin this process.”
Vice Chair Jesse Hanwit, a Senior Citizen Service Award recipient, also shared in the news release, “The moment I heard about the Age Friendly Network a couple of years ago I knew that it was something that could bring dignity, inclusion and connection to the citizens of Encinitas. And so, I am so proud and happy that Encinitas is now a part of this Age Friendly network. And like Lambert, I would like to thank Mayor Ehlers and the City Council for ing the motion that is allowing us to move this project forward. And thank you to the city staff for the important role they played in this endeavor.
“Encinitas is already a wonderful place to live, but now the city will have the opportunity to involve its residents in creating an accessible and ive environment that will address concerns and enhance what we already have. A special thank you to Israel Hernandez who was my mentor, my er and my friend through the process of spreading the word about the importance of the Age Friendly Network. We would not be here without his help and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future. “
To provide your survey input and learn more about the Age-Friendly Encinitas initiative visit: www.EncinitasCA.gov/AgeFriendlyEncinitas
