Amesville, OH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Since Amesville earned its designation as a Bee City USA, the village has worked to sustain pollinators. To provide pollinating birds and insects with a habitat rich in native plants and free from insecticides, the Village created a pollinator garden. The effort activated an underused meadow in Gifford Park. Volunteers used a natural herbicide to clear out unwanted grass, then spread compost and seeded the half-acre site with wildflowers. They also constructed birdboxes and installed seating and signage. Since completing the project, the Village has hosted mini-festivals onsite, which feature walking tours of the garden.

Ketchikan, AK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project will add six raised beds to a garden plot and purchase plants to give older adults the opportunity to grow vegetables and flowers while receiving the physical and mental benefits of gardening.

Wheelock, VT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Walkability

Description: This project will conduct three walk audits along a busy route in Wheelock Village to identify walking hazards and potential crosswalk locations and then share results at a community meeting that will be open to residents, business owners and local officials.