KEENE — Thanks to grants, the town of Keene has acquired six Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant picnic tables for community spaces around town.

The project is part of the town’s Age-Friendly Community initiative. In 2021, Keene became the first (and so far only) town in the Adirondack Park to join AARP’s Age-Friendly Communities program as an outgrowth of the town’s Strategic Plan. The task force’s mission is to ensure that Keene is the best place to live, work and play as we age.

Funding for the tables comes from the Cloudsplitter Foundation, Keene Valley Congregational Church and individual donations. The tables were made by Essex Industries in Mineville, which employs Adirondack residents with developmental disabilities.

The tables will be placed at the Community Center Pavilion, Marcy Field, Veterans Monument Park and Rivermede Park.

“The town is happy to receive these tables and enhance the friendliness of our signature outdoor gathering spots for persons of all ages and abilities,” town Supervisor Joseph P. Wilson Jr. said in a news release.

The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities serves as a catalyst to implement the types of changes that make communities more livable for people of all ages, especially older adults. The network provides cities, towns, counties and states with the resources to become more age-friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models and best practices.

The Cloudsplitter Foundation is dedicated to improving the future for the flora, fauna, communities and people of the Adirondacks.

Keene Valley Congregational Church is a member of the United Church of Christ. Doing justice, seeking peace and building community are central to the church’s identity.

Essex Industries is an integrated workplace where people with developmental disabilities work alongside others with no disabilities to make high-quality wood products. It allows people to perform and be paid for work that is valued and contributes to their self-esteem and sense of personal accomplishment.