Macon, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Before 24/7 television, air-conditioning and smartphones, sitting outside and talking over a game of chess or checkers was a popular pastime. To give residents of all ages in South Macon a place to gather, South Macon Art Revitalization Technology purchased outdoor checkerboard tables and two oversized Connect Four games. A crew of neighborhood residents serve as volunteer game instructors onsite. Chess, checkers and Connect Four are games that require critical thinking, patience and skill, SMART secretary Frankie Lewis said, noting that many older people in the neighborhood are accomplished chess and checkers players. We want to make sure their skills don't get lost due to the lack of activity, and we want the elders in our community to share their knowledge with people here of all ages, but especially our youth.

Alamogordo, NM

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project will beautify alleys that visitors will use to access businesses during an upcoming streetscape construction project on Alamogordo's main street. The grant will repair surfaces, making them safer for walking, and add benches and flowers, shade and LED lighting.

Clarion, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: A dilapidated, abandoned building sat in the heart of Clarion's downtown business district. But city officials were concerned demolishing the building would result in a missing tooth -- a vacant lot not conducive for redevelopment. The City made the difficult decision to tear down the building, but rather than leave the site empty they turned the space into a pocket park. Equipped with accessible picnic tables and new trees, bushes, planters and attractive grasses, the new green space gives residents easy access from a parking lot to the shops and restaurants on Central Avenue.