New Bench Installed In Ridgefield Honors Senior Community

**News Release Submitted by Ridgefield Commission on Aging**

Jan. 10, 2025

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 8-foot teak wood bench took place on January 8, 2025, in front of Marshalls, 125 Danbury Road, Ridgefield. The new addition is part of the town’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Ridgefield senior community.

“The bench is a physical reminder of how we value our Ridgefield residents who are seniors. It is also a reminder that transportation is a critical need for those of all ages, but especially for our seniors who can no longer drive themselves - whether it is to appointments, for recreation and in this case for shopping. The bench will provide a needed resting place for seniors to wait for the variety of public and volunteer transportation options to arrive and take them to their next destination. Effective transportation is an important quality of life issue we will continue to address,” said Tony Phillips, Director of Social Services.

The bench was made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of Marshalls, Rudy Marconi, First Selectperson, Tony Phillips, Director of Social Services, Clemencia Saleeby, a Commissioner on the Commission on Aging, Regency Centers and most notably Ridgefield Parks and Recreation, who provided the bench. Their dedication to supporting the town’s senior residents played a pivotal role in obtaining and installing the bench.

“Available and convenient transportation is critical for seniors to maintain independence and improve their quality of life. The Ridgefield community continues to address this critical need with the goal of enhancing access for everyone. We are happy to offer this simple, but meaningful addition for our seniors to help make our public and volunteer transportation more accessible,” said First Selectperson Rudy Marconi.

Ridgefield seniors and people with disabilities have a few options for transportation including the SweetHART, Town, and medical buses. In addition, there is Rides for Ridgefield (R4R), which provides transportation for seniors 60+ and residents with mobility disabilities. Their Mobility Management Center is staffed with volunteers who work with residents to identify the best transportation options. R4R drivers provide safe and reliable transportation and strive to connect you to places you need to go. For more information or help getting a ride, call 203-894-7433.