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Christiansted, VI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Christiansted has few accessible green spaces where older adults can gather, garden and support healthy aging. Mobility barriers and limited transit options have made it harder for residents to reach outdoor places that offer shade, seating and social connection. St. Croix Foundation advanced planning for an intergenerational community garden and wellness space at Sunday Market Square through a community-led design process. Older adults and nearby residents shaped accessibility, planting choices and safety features through focus groups and public engagement. The work produced a preliminary design and secured historic approvals, positioning the project for installation. As one participant noted, visible follow-through showed that feedback was reflected in the plans and "builds trust, speaks volumes." By centering older adults early, the project accelerated a long-standing vision for a green space that can expand access and intergenerational activity.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Toa Baja, PR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will transform an underutilized area into a vibrant gathering spot with murals, solar LED lights, shade sails, and concrete planters.
Evanston, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To bring vibrancy to Evanston's downtown, Evanston's Main Street program installed a unique, new seating option. This project added swing tables, which consist of a picnic table with bench seating on one side and swings on the other. Each table also accommodates people who use wheelchairs, who can roll up to either end of the table. To make the seating more comfortable, Main Street equipped each table with shade sails and solar lights. Additionally, the program engaged volunteers to paint pavement murals in the central business district's street crossings. The public art serves a dual purpose -- the murals add color to the streetscape and make crosswalks more noticeable to passing drivers. This calms traffic and increases pedestrian safety.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Closter, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A barren alley in the downtown district left older adults without a safe, comfortable spot to rest while shopping or socializing. The borough converted the space into a pocket park with benches, plantings and solar lighting, creating a pleasant passageway between parking and local businesses. The park now hosts pop-up art events and serves as a meeting point for residents. "This charming pocket park provides respite for seniors and passersby to socialize, bringing the community together," said a local council member.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Glen Rock, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Glen Rock faced growing concerns about pedestrian safety downtown, where older adults struggled with uneven sidewalks and drivers ignoring signals. To address this, the borough led three walk audits with 39 volunteers, most age 50-plus, who documented hazards and learned how to advocate for improvements. Their findings were compiled into a detailed report for municipal and regional agencies, prompting plans for repairs, signage and enforcement. The effort also created a trained network ready to conduct future audits. One participant noted how important this was given noticable walkability issues in this and other communities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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