Blue Springs, Mo. – The city of Blue Springs received a Bronze level recognition as a part of the Community for All Ages program on Friday, June 17 from the First Suburbs Coalition meeting. This award was given for Blue Springs’ work to become more age friendly.
“Our community has always worked to become more welcoming to residents of all ages,” said Mayor Carson Ross. “The Community for All Ages program compliments our local efforts with our Comprehensive Plan, Human Relations Commission and the Parks Master Plan; all three work together to foster an active community that promotes diversity and inclusion.”
The Communities for All Ages recognition program was developed by the First Suburbs Coalition and KC Communities for All Ages — two groups convened by MARC to develop programs and tools to support older, first-tier suburbs; help communities respond to the rapid increase in the older adult population; and make communities more welcoming for all age groups.
The first Communities for All Ages awards were presented in May 2015, when Gladstone attained the Silver level, and Grandview, Raytown and Mission all earned the Bronze level. This year, Gladstone earned the KC Communities for All Ages Gold award and Mission will receive the Silver award. Blue Springs, Liberty, Raymore and Roeland Park have all achieved the Bronze level.
The recognition program’s three sequential levels of achievement reflect increasing degrees of commitment to becoming a Community for All Ages. The Bronze level recognizes heightened awareness of the issues and requires a resolution or commitment by the city’s elected body, along with community presentations and public engagement. The Silver level adds the completion of an assessment process and requires the community to appoint a citizen-based committee to assess related city activities and investments. Gold, the highest level, recognizes communities that formally adopt a Communities for All Ages plan based on the assessment completed at the Silver level. Communities can maintain their recognition status by advancing to higher levels or, once the Gold level is achieved, continuing to implement new elements of their plans.
More information about the recognition program is available online at www.kccfaa.org.
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