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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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Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Residents and caregivers in living facilities for older adults often feel invisible, a challenge rooted in age stereotypes. Forest Hills of DC launched a temporary public art initiative featuring portraits and personal stories displayed as a large mural during a citywide art festival. The project included a workshop on dismantling age bias and a digital exhibit that remains online. The mural boosted morale, drew broad attention and increased volunteer engagement, with local media coverage and a visit from the mayor. "At Forest Hills, we truly believe in the magic that art and community can bring to our lives," said one participant.
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.
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: This project will create a large-scale mosaic mural. The project will involve community members in workshops, fostering artistic engagement and beautification in Baltimore's Park Heights neighborhood.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Digital Connectivity Disaster Response
Description: This project will provide older adults with technology resources and digital resilience workshops to prepare for natural disasters. It includes laptops, solar-powered phone chargers, hotspots, and solar charging stations.
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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