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Belchertown Senior Center (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
A revitalized walkway near the Senior Center lacked seating, discouraging older adults and those with cognitive impairments from taking longer walks. To address this, six sturdy benches were installed along Carriage Drive, secured on concrete slabs and surrounded by grass. Outreach included a ribbon-cutting event that drew residents age 50-plus. The benches now offer safe resting spots, encouraging more time outdoors and improving well-being. Plans for additional benches are underway. One participant said she was proud to live in a town that invests in projects showing care for older adults.
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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Gooding, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
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Klamath Falls, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A clearly marked walking path and easy‑to‑read wayfinding signs will be installed around a Senior Center. These upgrades will make it safer and easier for older adults to walk, stay active and navigate the property.
Woodburn, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Senior Estates Park lacked amenities for social gatherings and recreation, limiting opportunities for older adults to connect. The city added a fenced off-leash dog park and a 20-by-30 picnic shelter with ADA-accessible tables, trash receptacles and a drinking fountain with a dog bowl. These upgrades created a dry, covered space for family events and a safe area for dogs to play. The improvements are increasing park use, providing older adults with a convenient venue for social interaction and make the park a year-round destination for community celebrations.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Belchertown, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: Located near schools and an assisted living community, the Lake Wallace Sensory Trail is designed to welcome trail users of all abilities, including those with limited mobility or sensory issues. The rope-guided trail with Braille markers -- one of four in the state -- serves as a model for future accessible projects. This project added new tactile signs in Braille. Another feature gives visitors the option to lower the new trailhead kiosk to wheelchair height for easy access. Signage along the trail points out intersections, resting spots and information about lake ecology and the site's history. Part of the Belchertown Heritage Trails network, the sensory trail has since attracted more additional and community involvement.
Amherst, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will add seating, lighting, and greenery to create a safer, more accessible, and inviting plaza. This revitalized area near senior housing and a community center will foster social connections for older adults.
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