Parma

For older adults living in Parma, the Donna Smallwood Activities Center offers a vibrant, welcoming space to stay active, creative, and socially engaged. Serving Parma residents aged 55 and up, the center is a true hub of activity, offering everything from fitness classes and art workshops to wellness programs and community meals. It’s more than just a facility—it's a lively community built around connection, routine, and well-being.

The center’s schedule includes popular offerings like chair yoga, tai chi, strength training, line dancing, ballroom dance, knitting circles, quilting groups, Mahjong, billiards, and computer instruction. Educational sessions, legal assistance clinics, and healthcare screenings (like blood pressure checks) are offered regularly, and monthly social events provide fun opportunities to meet new people. For many, a highlight is the low-cost lunch program—a time to eat well and catch up with friendly faces. Volunteers and staff work together to ensure every guest feels at home.

Beyond the center, James Day Park offers fresh air and gentle exercise with paved walking trails, shaded benches, and manicured green space. It’s a favorite for morning walks and small group strolls. A short drive away, older adults can also explore the Parma Fitness Trail, a peaceful 1.1-mile loop ideal for maintaining daily movement goals. For those looking for more variety or nature immersion, the West Creek and Big Creek reservations within the Cleveland Metroparks offer broader walking networks, including accessible paths, boardwalks, and woodland trails perfect for light cardio or quiet reflection.

The center also provides access to supportive services including transportation assistance, Meals on Wheels referrals, Medicare guidance, and grief support programming. Staff are always available to help connect older residents with the right resources to stay safe, healthy, and independent.

Whether you’re dancing with friends, learning a new hobby, walking under the trees, or simply joining a lunch table conversation, Parma offers its senior residents plenty of ways to stay active and thrive.