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Athens, AL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project will provide age-friendly seating in the gathering area at the local farmers market, so that older patrons can relax, socialize and enjoy live musical performances.

Milton-Freewater, OR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project temporarily transformed an underused parking lot into a town plaza, dubbed Freewater Square. First, the Milton-Freewater Downtown Alliance made repairs to the pavement and added electric and water access at the site. They then purchased outdoor furniture, shade umbrellas and games. Volunteers also built planters and installed a stage for performances. To beautify the plaza, project organizers also held a mural painting competition. After the transformation, the plaza hosted monthly events, including live music, movie nights, community art projects and game tournaments -- all of which gave residents a safe way to socialize during the COVID-19 pandemic. Small buildings host pop-ups, allowing the site the act as a small business incubator. Eventually, MFDA plans to revert the site to a parking lot. But project organizers say they will use ideas from the plaza activation to permanently convert a nearby vacant lot into a community market and activity center.

Richmond, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project will install benches along Main Street where residents conduct errands, such as grocery shopping and banking. Several housing complexes for older adults and people with disabilities are nearby, yet currently there are no benches in the area.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Sheridan, WY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Supporting family caregivers

Description: The project will help family caregivers through instructional workshops, which will pair newer caregivers with experienced ones who can provide one-on-one support.

Sheridan, WY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Trails

Description: The North Main Association wanted to create a picnic area for Malcolm Wallop Trails, formerly known as North Park. To make the area accessible for people with mobility issues, the organization installed an ADA-compliant picnic table with and umbrella. In addition, they placed seven benches along the trails to allow people to rest during their walk or pause to observe deer, birds, squirrels and other wildlife. These improvements spurred the City of Sheridan to improve a parking area near the picnic table and install a sidewalk from the parking lot to the trails. The City also added a new trail to the site in 2021. Since the improvements, project organizers report an increase in visitors to Malcolm Wallop Trails.

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