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Borough of Closter (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
This project set out to connect a parking area with a lively commercial street. To do this, organizers transformed an underused alley into a pocket park. They outfitted the space with benches and landscaping. The space helps commuters and shoppers travel through Closter's downtown and doubles as a community gathering space.
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Aibonito, PR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will restore the plaza in El Campito, adding non-slip flooring, lighting repairs, ergonomic benches, outdoor exercise equipment, and tables for dominoes or chess.
Woodbury, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The grant will support LOT 323, a creative placemaking pop-up park that features music and arts and crafts events for residents aged 50 by partnering with senior housing and senior centers, as well as assisted living facilities.
Camden, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Camden's Main Street program transformed the city's Broad Street alley into a vibrant throughway for shoppers and diners. To involve community members in the makeover, the City invited residents to the space to create stained glass-like globes out of tissue paper. By hanging the completed art pieces and adding LED string lights and shade canopies, the City created a decorative, open ceiling to the alley. They later added benches and planters to create an outdoor gathering space. It's wonderful to see the residents who created pieces strolling through the alley and pointing out to friends and family where their piece is located, Camden Main Street Program Manager Katherine Spadacenta said.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Westwood, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To provide a safe and enjoyable gathering space, the Borough of Westwood created a parklet. Meant to sit in the footprint of a parking space, the parklet was designed to give people of all ages, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds a place to sit and relax in Westwood's central business district.
Englewood, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: After a local ordinance update to allow murals in Englewood, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation set out to create public art celebrating Black women's history. The Foundation commissioned an artist to create the Black Women's Mural Project's first installation, which celebrates the work of Black suffragists who fought to expand voting rights to women. Two community engagements coincided with the mural's installation, where community members could watch the artist work. Participants learned more about the artists' vision and the history informing the subject matter. Organizers invited residents to share their feedback and personal stories. Additionally, the Foundation provided information on registering to vote, as well as polling locations and hours. To celebrate the new artwork, they also produced a documentary about the mural.
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