New park will promote physical activity for senior citizens

Plenty of parks cater to kids, but few accommodate the needs of active seniors. That’s about to change in the North Reach.

Texas Parks & Wildlife has approved a $97,000 grant for development of Ida Gaye Gardens, a park designed to promote moderate physical activity and prolong an independent lifestyle for senior citizens. The future park will be located within the bayou’s North Reach on 3.2 acres at Langwick Drive and West Hardy Toll Road in the Greenspoint District. The North Reach stretches from Veterans Memorial Drive to the Union Pacific Railroad, just east of U.S. 59.

Medical research indicates that participating in frequent physical activity can delay the onset of dementia and help prevent falls and fall-related injuries. But playground equipment for children often dominates community parks, making recreational options scant for seniors.

To encourage outdoor activity, Ida Gaye Gardens will feature walking trails and outdoor exercise equipment geared towards older adults. A cushioned surface for activities such as yoga or tai chi will provide a place for both spiritual and physical workouts. Signs that explain the health benefits of certain activities will be peppered throughout the park.

Ida Gaye Gardens also will provide a serene place for seniors to socialize. Outdoor seating, both sunny and shaded, will be grouped together making it easy for people to strike up conversation. And wind chimes will hang in trees, creating peaceful and calming music.

Raised planters will allow visitors to get up close to touch and smell the flowers planted throughout. There also will be community plots for seniors who want to get their hands dirty and develop their own gardening skills.

The park is located near a senior living center. Another 10,000 seniors live within a one-mile radius and 75,000 live within a three-mile radius, making the site an ideal spot for a senior park. Cherno Nije, developer of the senior living center, donated the property and asked that it be named in honor of his mother, Ida Gaye.

The Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition applied for the grant in 2005. The Greenspoint District, KBR, CenterPoint Energy, United Way and RVi Houston have committed funds for the project.

Construction of the first phase of Ida Gaye Gardens, which includes landscaping and trails should be complete in late 2010. The park is scheduled for completion in 2012.