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Avenue Community Development Corporation (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
To increase walkability and create a safe, beautiful gathering space, Avenue CDC engaged a local artist, local schoolchildren and residents to create a 600-foot mural. The wall selected for the artwork was off-putting and had been vandalized many times. But the site also acted as the entry point to the Northline neighborhood, since the wall faces the nearby light rail station. The mural's design pays homage to local Latino culture and the history of the neighborhood. As the mural reached its completion, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and project organizers were able to repurpose leftover grant funds to help with recovery and rebuilding.
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See More Projects Like This One
Beaver Dam, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: As downtown revitalization advanced, residents wanted a way to honor local history. The city launched "Doors to Our Past," turning old doors into canvases for historical artwork. Fifteen doors depicting landmarks and traditions were created through collaboration between residents of all ages. The installation now forms a permanent art trail and has inspired plans for annual additions. One door featuring Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus sparked heartfelt memories of decades spent delighting children during the holidays.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Lakewood, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Older adults who walk the Alameda Corridor to reach shops and health care often lacked safe places to pause, making trips exhausting and limiting independence. Alameda Connects installed a concrete pad with a bench and trash bin at a key resting point. It also added colorful ground murals at three sites, including a transit stop and Easterseals Colorado, to make the spaces feel safer and more welcoming. The project united older adults and students in painting days that sparked friendships and inspired neighborhood cleanups and business interest in murals. One teen said, "Thank you for letting me volunteer. This project gave me purpose."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Pikeville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: In a rural community with high poverty and an aging population, cultural isolation limited opportunities for engagement. To address this, Pikeville created an Indigenous History mural depicting the Trail of Tears, supported by a skilled artist and QR-coded videos for deeper learning. The unveiling event brought residents together for a guided tour, sparking dialogue about heritage and resilience. Now a permanent feature downtown, the mural serves as an educational tool and catalyst for similar projects, offering older adults a meaningful way to connect with history and foster unity.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Digital Connectivity Disaster Response
Description: Wesley Community Center addressed a critical gap in disaster preparedness for older adults who lacked reliable access to technology, power and digital skills during emergencies. Power outages and limited connectivity made it harder to communicate, find information and complete essential tasks. The project created a computer lab for older adults and delivered hands-on workshops that built digital skills alongside disaster readiness. The program included how to save documents, access assistance and use devices during outages. Wesley also installed permanent charging infrastructure, including solar-powered and indoor charging stations. One participant said the charger would be especially helpful "during emergencies, power outages or situations where access to electricity is limited," strengthening confidence and reinforcing Wesley's role as a trusted disaster resource.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Many residents of Houston's Gulfton neighborhood do not own cars, making walking, cycling and public transit use common in the area -- one of the most diverse in the city. But street infrastructure didn't exist to protect cyclists from street traffic. To demonstrate the value of streetscape improvements, the City set up a pop-up bike lane on Westward Street near a local elementary school. First, the City developed a pop-up toolkit, consisting of chalk, paint, stencils and traffic cones. They then used these to create bike lanes on both sides of the street, with plans to conduct more low-cost, temporary pop-ups in the future. During the Westward Street demonstration, the City conducted a survey of residents. Following the success of the temporary bike lanes, the City broke ground on a permanent street redesign project nearby. Planners expect permanent protected bike lanes to be installed along the stretch where the demonstration took place.
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