As we shared in our 5 (Really) Important Parks and Recreation Trends for 2024 guide, adults over the age of 65 are the fastest growing segment in the United States. This particular age group, known as the Baby Boomer generation, is also one of the most active senior groups in recent history—with 9 out of 10 older adults wanting their local parks and rec agency to provide activities for their age group.

In this year’s guide, Key Parks & Recreation Trends for 2025, we found even more data through our own proprietary survey that supported the above. These findings showcase the importance of supporting this actively aging demographic through parks and rec. And while the majority of agencies—77%, according to our research—already offer senior-specific programming, there's still opportunity to further engage this expanding demographic outside of traditional activities for older adults.

In this article, we’ll cover three creative ways that you can support your senior community members through your parks and recreation offerings.

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3 Creative Ways for Your Agency to Support Seniors

As mentioned above, many agencies are already offering activities and programs for older adults. But outside of the more traditional seniors' classes, how can you ensure that your agency is adequately supporting this growing and active age group?

Below are three creative ways that your organization can try to further enhance the health and wellbeing of your older adult community members.

#1: Tweak Traditional Programs 

While there are many well-established seniors' programs out there, quite a few new activities have cropped up in recent years that cater directly to older adults. Of course, one of the most noteworthy is pickleball, which has been the fastest growing sport in America for four consecutive years. But that's not what we're talking about here—since we'd bet good money that you already offer that!

Instead, we’re referring to activities that are slight variations of more traditional programming, such as the below.

⚽ Walking Soccer

One of the most popular team sports for youth, soccer is likely an activity many of your senior customers have played—and would love to participate in again! This particular variation of the game is modified so that there’s no running and no contact. It’s played indoors on turf and focuses on communication and teamwork.

🎳 Short Mat Bowling

Also played inside but on a mat instead of turf, short mat bowling is a less intensive version of lawn bowling. The mat is pre-marked and measures 6-feet wide by 45-feet long. Teams can be made up of one-to-four players per side, with teams taking turns delivering a bowl from the unmarked end to the opposite, marked end.

💃 Zumba Gold

This variation of the beloved dance-based fitness program is a modified Zumba class designed for older adults. It offers the same moves you’d find in a traditional Zumba class but slowed down for a lower-intensity workout and experience.

🤝 Intergenerational Programming

From mentorship programs to exercise classes that intentionally include a wide range of ages, variations of already popular programs can help connect your seniors to other demographics in your area for a stronger sense of community and wellbeing. 

#2: Use Tech to Improve Accessibility

When it comes to accessibility, seniors can face certain challenges interacting with your parks and recreation offerings. Whether there are physical obstacles in a center, or they are unfamiliar with how to use a specific software, you can remove many of these barriers by offering intuitive, tech-based solutions.

Below are a few different ways that your agency can use technology to support your older adult customers in achieving their health and wellness goals.

💻 Online Program Registration

Online registration empowers senior customers to sign up for activities from the comfort of their own homes—or wherever they have access to the internet!

But remember, not all recreation management software is made equal. Ensure that your online registration experience is user-friendly for all customers, regardless of tech savvy they are.

Below are a few ways you can ensure an intuitive experience for your customers, regardless of their age or tech abilities.

✅ Embed Your Online Registration Portal

Embedding your program registration portal right onto your website is one of the best ways to simplify your customers’ online experience. Without ever leaving your site, your community members can search, browse, register, and pay for the activities they'd like to participate in.

📱 Ensure Your Registration Is Mobile Friendly

Many Baby Boomers love their handheld devices as much as younger generations do! In fact, 40 billion online users access the internet by mobile device, compared to the 10 billion who use a desktop computer. To support your senior customers in registering online via their phones or tablets, make sure that your registration is optimized for mobile viewing.

📣 Provide Clear CTAs, Above the Fold 

It’s important to clearly guide your online visitors on their journey through your website. So, if you’d like your customers to register online for your programs, make sure that you provide a clear call-to-action (CTA) where they can see it. For example, a strong CTA could be “Register Now”, especially if placed “above the fold”, which simply means any space near the top of a page without having to scroll down.

💡 Did You Know?

Xplor Recreation offers an embedded widget, so that your online registration portal is accessible directly on your website. Our recreation management software is also mobile optimized, so that community members can easily navigate an agency's program offerings from their phones, tablets, or desktop computers. We even offer the first fully native, white-label mobile app in the industry!

Want to learn more about how to improve your online registration experience? Watch our on-demand webinar: 7 Common Online Registration Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them.

📱 Digital Membership Cards

While digital membership cards offer convenience to all of your customers, this benefit is especially helpful for older adults who may be concerned about security or keeping track of a physical card. Digital cards are kept right on community members’ smartphones, so your customers will no longer need to worry about replacing lost or stolen physical cards—or having to pay any replacement fees.

💡 Did You Know?

With Xplor Recreation’s mobile app, customers have access to their membership cards right on their phones. All they have to do is download your agency's custom-branded app—powered by Xplor Recreation—and login to their customer account. As a native application, our mobile app is completely secure, with the option to use biometric login via Face or Touch ID, keeping your customers’ membership cards and account details safe.

🤖 AI-Powered Smart Search

Make it easier than ever for seniors to find what they’re looking for when registering for your programs online with AI-powered smart search. This functionality leverages natural language processing via artificial intelligence. Basically, this means that a customer can search for an activity with the same words they would use in a conversation, such as, “Aquafit classes for seniors on Wednesday afternoons."

AI-powered smart search replaces the need to search manually or toggle different filters, making it a simpler user experience for older adults who may not be as comfortable using an online registration platform.

💡 Did You Know?

Xplor Recreation’s white-label mobile app offers AI-powered smart search to help your community members find what they’re looking for with ease. In fact, this functionality is one of the key features that convinced the Town of Caledon to launch their own mobile app with Xplor Recreation. Learn more about their experience in our case study: How Caledon Is Driving Innovation with Xplor Recreation’s Mobile App.

#3: Leverage Senior-Focused Holidays and Events

In addition to activities and programming that are designed or modified specifically for seniors, your agency can leverage various nationwide and state-level events that celebrate those 65 years and older. Below are a few examples that you can use to get started.

💪 National Senior Health and Fitness Day, May 28

Taking place every year on the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health and Fitness Day is America’s largest annual older adult health and wellness event. 

🎉 Baby Boomer Recognition Day, August 17 

This day is celebrated every August 17 in honor of the generation born between the years of 1946 and 1964. The majority of Boomers are now considered seniors, with ages ranging from early 60s to late 70s.

🏃 Active Aging Week, October 6-12

Active Aging Week is a celebration of older adults and seeks to promote health and wellness for seniors through lifestyle choices and engaging activities.

How to Leverage Senior-Focused Holidays and Events

With many seniors already taking part in events like the ones above, you and your team can use these celebrations to engage your older community members. Here are a few ideas on how your agency can leverage these holidays and events to support your senior customers’ health and fitness goals.

🎫 Free Classes

Offer free drop-in classes for seniors on the day of the event or during the week of recognition. Make sure you tie the promotion of the free classes back to the event, so that your messaging of support for your senior community members is clear.

🧘‍ Wellness Workshops

Host wellness workshops tailored to seniors, focusing on topics like balance improvement, joint health, and mindfulness. You could even consider partnering with local healthcare providers or wellness experts to lead some of the sessions during the event.

🎶 Social Activities

Plan a themed dance or social event, such as a Golden Oldies Karaoke Night, to celebrate this generation, while also encouraging movement and connections with other community members. 

🏅 Group Fitness Challenges

Launch a group exercise or movement challenge that kicks off during the holiday. Provide participants with tracking tools and small incentives for milestones that they can work towards throughout the program. 

Supporting Your Seniors with Innovation

As the fastest-growing demographic in the United States, seniors represent a large and dynamic community eager to engage with their local parks and recreation agencies. By tweaking traditional programs, utilizing accessible tech-based solutions, and recognizing senior-focused holidays and events, your agency can support the older adults in your community in new and exciting ways.

Make Your Offering More Accessible for Seniors

Discover how Xplor Recreation’s parks and recreation management software and native mobile app can simply your online registration experience for customers of all ages. Schedule a demo today and take the first step towards empowering your community with technology that’s accessible for everyone.