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Better Block Hawaii (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
While Hawaii is known for beaches and lush mountains, many urban areas lack accessible green space. To give residents outdoor space, Better Block Hawaii planned, designed and installed two parklets in Honolulu's Kalihi neighborhood. Working with the City of Honolulu to identify areas of need, they installed the first parklet at Richie's Drive Inn, transforming a parking area into a mini park with tables, benches, planters and a mural. Parklets help local businesses extend their storefronts onto the sidewalk and boost revenue by creating cozy, inviting gathering places.
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Chattanooga, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A vacant lot will be transformed into an accessible pocket park featuring seating, lighting, paths, shade trees and a small raised garden. The space will host programs and volunteer stewardship to encourage connection among residents age 50-plus.
Rapid City, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To increase awareness of the local book club and other community activities, NeighborWorks designed and installed 30 flags in the North Rapid neighborhood. A local artists created designs for the flags and residents worked together to approve wording for each one. Volunteers then installed flags on utility poles throughout the neighborhood. Project organizers say that since the flags appeared, local groups have received inquiries about how to become more involved in local activities.
West Memphis, AR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The town of West Memphis hoped to promote community connections, cycling and walking. To achieve this, the town set up three parklets in its Main Street District, located near an expanded bike trail that links West Memphis with neighboring Memphis, Tennessee. Parklets -- mini street oases created in the footprint of a parking space -- provide places to sit, talk and gather. The West Memphis parklets each feature LED lighting and public art. Sculptures created from donated bicycles distinguish two of the parklets. The other parklet features new wooden benches and an oversized sculpture of a guitar, meant to pay homage to the town's musical heritage.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robin Bush stayed home, alone except for her cat. Fortunately, Bush and more than 100 additional kupuna (the Hawaiian term for grandparent or elder) found a way to develop intergenerational connections through Purpose Pals. A partnership between Hawaii's Afterschool Alliance, Age-Friendly Honolulu, Blue Zones Hawaii, and AARP, the program has matched more than 100 kupuna with young adults ages 18-24. The pairs socialize during regularly scheduled video and phone calls. The initiative takes personal interests, skills, life stories and experiences into account when making matches. Participants can then talk about anything, from favorite recipes to career advice to current events. "We looked for ways to promote social connectedness and, in particular, create a more age-friendly community by fostering friendships across generations," Purpose Pals organizer Christy Nishita said.
Honolulu, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management
Description: When Bikeshare Hawaii launched its Biki bikeshare program, it found that older adults were not using the resource at the same rate as younger people. In response, it invited Hawaiians age 50 and older to sign up for Biki Social Rides. The rides, held in partnership with Blue Zones Hawaii and the Hawaii Bicycling League, included a tutorial on how to use the Biki app to find stations. Instructors also showed riders how to dock and undock the service's turquoise bicycles. Additionally, Bikeshare Hawaii provided each participant with a helmet and a trial Biki membership.
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