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Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
Richlands had few accessible parks, leaving older adults and people with disabilities without safe spaces for fitness or social connection. The "Fit for Life" project added wheelchair-accessible swings, air walkers and benches to an underused park, while volunteers brightened the space with colorful features. Now, older adults can exercise, socialize and join community outings in a park designed for everyone. "I had the best day," said one visitor, capturing the joy and renewed sense of belonging this project brings. Plans for similar parks in other communities are already underway.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Amherst, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Older adults lacked inclusive, low-impact recreation options, and temporary courts limited year-round play. The county built a permanent bocce court with ADA features, including a hinged entry for mobility aids, and added benches and equipment. A grand opening introduced the court to the community, creating a safe space for social connection and physical activity. The design reduces fall risks and fosters inclusion. One participant using a walker said she was thrilled with the ease of accessing the court, underscoring its role in helping residents stay active and engaged.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Edgemont, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: An abandoned tennis court in the town's only park left older adults with few options for daily physical activity. Volunteers transformed the space into two regulation pickleball courts by resurfacing and painting the area. They also installed posts and nets near the local adult center to have easy equipment access. The courts now offer low-impact exercise and social interaction, helping reduce isolation and health risks. Daily use reports and plans for tournaments signal lasting benefits for residents and visitors, who have expressed excitement that these courts are now available.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Crossville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Cumberland County converted a picnic shelter into an outdoor classroom to reduce isolation and create inclusive learning spaces. The project added limestone benches, planter boxes, flagstone flooring and whiteboards, and opened with a ribbon-cutting event. Agencies and nonprofits are already scheduling classes on gardening, health and art. Free access removes economic barriers and fosters intergenerational engagement. "We feel the sky is the limit on the number of classes as well as the subject matter that will take place in this space," the county noted.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Abingdon, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Older adults struggled to access the Coomes Recreation Center because accessible parking was 340 feet from the entrance and few knew how to use local transit. The project moved seven accessible spaces closer to the door, added ADA upgrades and clear signage, and worked with the local public transit provider to make the center a regular bus stop. It also produced educational videos and held training sessions to teach people how to navigate public transit. These changes improved safety and independence. One participant said closer parking now lets him drive himself to therapy, a shift that underscores the project's impact.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Bluefield, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: This project will renovate the historic Hotel Thelma into 10 affordable apartments for older adults and a restaurant. It will include solar panels, an intergenerational garden, and exhibits on Thelma Stone's legacy.
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