Ellsworth, WI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Ellsworth's once-bustling East End corridor had declined over several decades, with a 60 percent vacancy rate along Broadway Street. The Local Chamber of Commerce hoped to see the neighborhood rise again as a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use area. To promote its vision, the Chamber commissioned six murals celebrating local agricultural history. They also put up light pole banners and window clings with branding for the neighborhood and added benches, bistro tables and hanging planter baskets along Broadway Street. The Chamber then staged a historical walking tour, which garnered local news coverage and spurred the County historical association to consider designating the East End as an official historic district. In conjunction with these placemaking efforts, the Chamber launched a pop-up program for small businesses opening in the East End. Following that initiative, two of the participating decided to operate permanently in the neighborhood.

Liberty, KY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Low literacy rates and few enrichment activities left older adults in Casey County without ways to learn and connect. The library installed a StoryWalk along an accessible trail, featuring interactive story panels and hosting a ribbon-cutting event. Walking groups and families began using it for exercise and engagement, and stories rotate monthly. One participant said he that he thought the incorporation of sign language was very useful, and enjoyed learning and using it.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

New Orleans, LA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: A neighborhood playground in Musicians Village had fallen into disrepair, leaving older adults and families without a safe space to gather. Volunteers replaced damaged equipment and added two new play structures. They also installed an accessible picnic table and built a new fence to restore safety and appeal. Monthly cleanups removed hazards like broken glass, and community events drew residents back to the park. The upgrades transformed the site into a welcoming space for multigenerational activity. This prompted additional city funding for future improvements, signaling long-term investment in neighborhood livability.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.