parks
One ‘yes’ launched rock-climbing program for people with Parkinson’s
Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by LeAnne Gendreau , WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 20, 2026
· 2 min read
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Aging Untold) — A retired physician diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 20 years ago was turned away from gym after gym when he wanted to try rock climbing — until one said yes. That single yes led to the creation of Up Ending Parkinson’s, a nonprofit that connects peopl...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting LeAnne Gendreau, WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway (Aging Untold) — A retired physician diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 20 years ago was turned away from gym after gym when he wanted to try rock climbing — until one said yes.
Why this matters in The Nashville
Nashville's own parks and recreation facilities could learn from the success of Up Ending Parkinson's, a nonprofit that brings rock climbing to people with Parkinson's disease. With a growing population of retirees and a strong focus on community health, Nashville is well-positioned to support similar programs. Local climbing gyms and community centers could consider partnering with healthcare organizations to offer adaptive climbing programs, providing a unique opportunity for people with Parkinson's to stay active and mobile. By doing so, Nashville can help its residents with Parkinson's disease to maintain their physical and cognitive abilities, and improve their overall quality of life. As the city continues to invest in its parks and recreation infrastructure, incorporating inclusive and adaptive programs like rock climbing for people with Parkinson's should be a key consideration. This could help Nashville become a model for innovative and supportive community programming.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Aging Untold) — A retired physician diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 20 years ago was turned away from gym after gym when he wanted to try rock climbing — until one said yes. That single yes led to the creation of Up Ending Parkinson’s, a nonprofit that connects peopl...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by LeAnne Gendreau at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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