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Brushton-Moira Adult Center (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
An outdated Adult Center left residents in a rural community facing isolation and food insecurity. Volunteers transformed the space by installing a two-sided LED sign for outreach, adding new lighting, painting walls and creating a mural. A half wall now makes meal service safer and more efficient. These changes boosted meal participation by up to 21% and drew record attendance at holiday events. One diner said that the spruced up center will encourage more people to be willing to come and enjoy it, reflecting renewed community pride and plans for further upgrades.
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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Oxford, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Oxford's historic downtown is home to restaurants, shops, art galleries, historic churches and a first-class performing arts center. Its brick-paved sidewalks are great for strolling, but the area lacked seating options. To address this, Historic Main Street Oxford installed metal benches, as well as two bike racks. This enables Main Street visitors to grab an ice cream cone with a friend and rest comfortably in the shade. The new amenities came during a downtown streetscaping project, which included installing accessible sidewalks, new lighting and improved landscaping.
Montpelier, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To provide a place for cyclists and walkers to rest and socialize, this project developed a pocket park along an existing bike path. Guertin Pocket Park features a pergola -- a wooden structure with a roof -- to provide shelter from the sun or rain. Project organizers also incorporated seating and bike racks, as well as a rainwater collection system that feeds a small decorative garden. In 2021, the city decided to move the pocket park to a new location in the heart of downtown.
Monroe, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To give people an outdoor space to socialize in the heart of downtown, the City of Monroe transformed its visitor center's concrete patio into a new mini-park. The City brightened up the area by adding planters, seating, outdoor games and a mural painted by local youth. The City then unveiled the new space during the local fall festival. Additionally, project organizers made enhancements to the existing hammock park located next to the visitor's center. The site offers visitors a spot to relax in one of several hammocks. To accommodate more foot traffic, the City added bench swings and pergolas for shade. Inspired by the visitor center improvements, nearby businesses put out their own planters by their storefronts. Project organizers say the upgrades helped lift the spirits of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Cortland, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Older adults faced safety risks at home and lacked affordable options for modifications. The project delivered home safety training and distributed low-cost products, while public presentations raised awareness and encouraged practical steps. Staff guided participants on using grab bars and other aids, and outreach sparked interest in borrowing equipment from the organization's loan closet. One attendee even opened his home for volunteer-led improvements, showing how education can lead to action and safer living.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Glen Cove, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Transportation Other
Description: As transit systems moved schedules, fares and maps online, many older adults in Glen Cove struggled to use buses and trains without digital skills. Age-Friendly Glen Cove addressed that barrier through hands-on workshops that paired transit app training with real trips on local buses and rail. Older adults received one-on-one help from trained volunteers, including youth tutors, and practiced planning routes and paying fares in real time. One couple said learning the app gave them confidence to travel together by train for the first time in years. By combining digital training with practical experience and local advocacy, the project expanded mobility options and helped residents stay connected to daily activities and community life.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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