October 30, 2020
Originally published in Mayor Armondo Pavone's October 23 Newsletter
News
Oct. 21 - Renton earns “Age-Friendly City” designation from AARP and WHO
Oct. 30 - Age-Friendly Renton Community Survey (closes Nov. 20)
Renton joins Seattle as the only two cities in the state of Washington to earn "Age-Friendly" city status from AARP and WHO.
We are charged with taking care of the most important people in our community. That's why I was so pleased that Renton earned the designation as an "Age-Friendly City" by AARP and the World Health Organization.
We are just the second city in the state to join a global network of cities. We’ll learn their best practices and bring back them to Renton.
The "Age-Friendly" designation covers residents of all ages. Our commitment will guide us to make the best decisions that will benefit everyone in our community.
I'm especially looking forward to how this will assist our senior population. We are projecting that over the next 10 years, the number of our residents 65 or older will double to 1 in 5. Now is when we start preparing for this shift in demographics.
We started by establishing a Senior Citizen Advisory Board last year. They reviewed our current program offerings to gauge their effectiveness and identify what we are missing. Their work will continue to be instrumental as we reach out to residents, non-profit organizations, businesses, and faith-based communities.
This project's inspiration came from former city councilmember Don Persson. For as long as I can remember, Don has passionately advocated caring for our seniors, or as he called them "the most important people in our world." He deserves a big part of this award, and I look forward to his input as we proceed.
My thanks also to our community services recreation and neighborhood division for securing this designation. Over the past months, our focus has narrowed on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's gratifying that we can still see the big picture and implement a process that will benefit all our generations.
As part of our “Age-Friendly City” designation, we are initiating a monthly Renton Virtual Series via Zoom on the second and fourth Mondays from 2 to 3 p.m. The series will cover various topics using expert presenters, city staff, and include your ideas. Check the schedule and register to reserve your spot. Use course #9383. For help, call 425-430-6633.
About the City of Renton
The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 105,500 (2020), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace and favorable business climate have attracted the attention of nationally recognized companies that are providing employees and their families an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, the Seattle Seahawks, and the eternal resting place of Jimi Hendrix. More information can be found on our website, news releases, or Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.
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