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Beyond Walls Inc. (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
The PATIO Parklet program involved installing three modular, portable parklets in downtown Lynn. Parklets transform curbside parking spaces into vibrant community spaces. The ones in Lynn include tables and seating, greenery and public art. Since installing the parklets, Lynn has seen improved street safety, increased foot traffic, more social interactions among residents and new, culturally relevant programming downtown. The parklets have hosted musical performances, sidewalk sales and the Living Room Series -- facilitated bilingual conversations on important local topics. One installation of the Living Room Series gave residents the chance to meet with school committee and city council candidates. Project organizers say the parklet initiative also helped Beyond Walls to deepen its relationship with partner organizations, including Greater Lynn Senior Services and the Lynn Council on Aging.
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See More Projects Like This One
Elkhorn, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Elkhorn lacked an outdoor space designed for older adults, leaving many residents with mobility challenges and few options for social connection. The Chamber transformed a vacant downtown lot into an ADA-accessible park with clustered seating, lighting, tables and a water feature. The space quickly hosted major events, including a high school reunion and a holiday festival, and is now reserved for dementia-friendly programs and book clubs. A local business owner who uses a wheelchair said that he was able to fully utilize the space for the first time and that it felt effortless, underscoring its inclusive design and lasting impact.
Charlotte, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Before the advent of air conditioning, a Southern home was not complete without a front porch with a swing. To replicate the experience of gathering on a porch, the City of Charlotte installed swings at two bus stops in place of the more traditional bench. Located along Belmont Avenue -- a corridor where many older adults rely on public transportation -- the two-person swings provide a space for riders to socialize as they wait for their bus. Inspired by the popularity of the swings, the City is exploring other opportunities for placemaking around local bus stops.
Wilton, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: In a rural town where many older residents lacked shaded, accessible spaces and opportunities for meaningful engagement, Wilton built a handicap-accessible gazebo along the riverwalk and launched a Senior Citizen Science Program. Volunteers age 55-plus assembled the structure and ramp, creating the first shaded amenity downtown. Thirty older adults joined the program to collect wildlife data for conservation efforts. The gazebo quickly became a social hub for gatherings and nature observation, while the science program reconnected residents with their community and informed updates to the town's Natural Resource Inventory.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Lynn, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: While downtown Lynn offers shopping and dining, the city offers few recreational opportunities for older adults. To address this, the City of Lynn has made improvements to the downtown district to make the space more appealing to older residents. First, project organizers created a parklet near Lynn Commons, turning an on-street parking space into a mini-park with benches and shade trees. They also made roadway improvements, including adding curb cuts to make sidewalks safer and more accessible. Finally, they worked with a partner organization to hang 80 large-scale murals. Since the improvements, the City launched a series of walking tours featuring the murals, which are installed throughout the community.
Lynn, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Older adults in Lynn faced unsafe sidewalks and poor street conditions that limited access to the Northern Strand Trail and transit options. To address this, Bike to the Sea led three walk audits with about 30 participants, including residents and city officials, to document hazards and rate conditions using worksheets. Findings were shared in local media and the AARP Bulletin, sparking conversations about safety signage and infrastructure upgrades. "We all need to work together to make sure the streets are safe", said one resident, underscoring the push for lasting improvements.
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