WOONSOCKET – On what was the hottest day of the year so far, 75 or so community members gathered to celebrate the official opening and ribbon cutting of Aging Well’s new outdoor recreational green space. This was a project designed to create a welcoming outdoor environment where older adults can connect, garden, relax, and enjoy nature, said officials.
With temperatures soaring into the upper 90s, most of the ceremony was moved indoors to ensure the comfort and safety of attendees. Despite the extreme heat, the excitement surrounding the project was apparent as elected officials, community partners, donors, volunteers, and residents came together to celebrate the completion of a long-envisioned community space.
The area features pickleball and shuffleboard courts, raised garden beds, a gathering platform with benches, elegant wrought-iron bistro table and chair sets, and landscaped areas designed to encourage recreation, social connection, wellness, and outdoor enjoyment for older adults.
The ceremony was opened by Aging Well Program Director Ryan McLeod, who welcomed guests and thanked the many organizations, businesses, and individuals whose generosity helped transform the vision into reality.
Speakers included City Councilor Valerie Gonzalez, who spoke about the importance of creating spaces that promote connection, dignity, wellness, and joy for older adults. She was followed by Mayor Christopher Beauchamp, State Rep. Bob Phillips, and Sienna Viette of Open Farms Retreat, each highlighting the value of partnerships in building stronger, healthier communities.
Among those in attendance were Aging Well’s Board Members: President Scott McGee, Vice President Lisa Carcifero, and Madeleine L’Esperance. Also there were Lieutenant Gov. Sabina Matos, Sen. Brian Thompson, Council President Dan Gendron, Council Vice President Denise Sierra, and Councilor Mike Dubois.
Several elected officials who were unable to attend also demonstrated their support through the purchase of commemorative engraved bricks, including Congressman Gabe Amo and State Rep. Jon Brien.
The outdoor recreational green space was made possible through the generosity of many community partners, led by a transformational $100,000 contribution from the Harriet Ballou Charitable Foundation, whose investment helped bring the project to life.
Additional featured sponsors included Aging Well Inc., the city of Woonsocket, Beacon Charter High School for the Arts, Open Farms Retreat, UnitedHealthcare, the Ida Ballou Littlefield Memorial Trust, Ocean State Charities Trust, Navigant Credit Union Charitable Foundation, AARP Foundation, and Age-Friendly Rhode Island.
Community members also supported the project through engraved bench and brick donations. Bench donors included Michael St. Germain, Mayor Beauchamp, Boucher Real Estate, and Sandra Garcia.
Brick donors included Scott McGee, Denise Dubois, John Croteau, and Douglas Audette.
Special recognition was also given to Cercle Laurier, Andree Fanning, Anonymous, Tom Yannone, Donna Casey, Ocean State Job Lot, Signature Soft Wash, the Aging Well Inc. Board of Directors, Barbara Heroux, Lucille Vario, Anthony and Pat Kuras, Kate Epp, and memorial gifts honoring Eugene Arel and Helen Nichols.
Guests were invited to tour the new green space following the ceremony, where they viewed the raised garden beds, gathering areas, landscaping, and recreational features designed to encourage outdoor activity, social engagement, and healthy aging. The new space represents Aging Well’s continued commitment to creating innovative environments where older adults can thrive physically, mentally, and socially.
Though the project has reached this milestone, organizers emphasized that the work is not complete. Future improvements include the installation of a vertical platform lift to provide full handicap accessibility. The lift, along with the required demolition, reconstruction, and doorway modifications, has been estimated at $32,000. Additional priorities include enhanced security for the green space, pop-up umbrellas to provide shade during outdoor programming, parking lot improvements with appropriate signage, and other enhancements that will ensure the space remains safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all.
Aging Well continues to offer engraved commemorative bricks for purchase, allowing individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to leave a lasting legacy while helping fund the remaining improvements. Every contribution will enable Aging Well to continue expanding and enhancing this valuable community resource for generations to come.
To help fund these remaining improvements, Aging Well continues to offer engraved commemorative benches ($500) and bricks ($250). These lasting tributes provide individuals, families, businesses, and organizations with an opportunity to leave a permanent legacy while investing in a space that will benefit older adults and the community for years to come.
Gonzalez reflected on the deeper meaning of the project.
“The earth we live on is made up of spaces, and each of us has been entrusted with a portion of it,” she said. “What we choose to do with those spaces determines the kind of community we create. Our seniors have spent their lives building our families, our neighborhoods, our businesses, and the very foundation of this community. Now it is our turn to develop something for them.”
Added Gonzalez, “Together, we are creating far more than a beautiful outdoor green space. We are creating a place where older adults can enjoy their golden years surrounded by friendship, dignity, wellness, and joy—a place where gardens will grow, conversations will flourish, and lasting memories will be made. This is one small way of saying, ‘Thank you,’ to the generation that has given so much to all of us.”
