AARP Eye Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
See More Projects Like This One
Amesville, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Since Amesville earned its designation as a Bee City USA, the village has worked to sustain pollinators. To provide pollinating birds and insects with a habitat rich in native plants and free from insecticides, the Village created a pollinator garden. The effort activated an underused meadow in Gifford Park. Volunteers used a natural herbicide to clear out unwanted grass, then spread compost and seeded the half-acre site with wildflowers. They also constructed birdboxes and installed seating and signage. Since completing the project, the Village has hosted mini-festivals onsite, which feature walking tours of the garden.
Berlin, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The City of Berlin has eight parks, but only two were well visited. Berlin's Parks and Recreation Department hoped to draw residents to check out the lesser-known locations. To do this, the department held a bench-painting contest. Local Boy Scouts and high school students built six wooden benches and Parks and Recreation Department recruited local artists to paint them. After the benches were completed, the Parks Department placed one in each park. The department then got residents involved, challenging them to hunt for each bench's location and vote on the designs they liked best. After the scavenger hunt, the benches went up for auction. The hunt got residents explore local parks, including ones they might not have previously visited. Inspired by the success of this project, the Parks Department plans to replicate the competition in the future.
Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project will install a comfortable and attractive circular tree bench in a park where residents can sit while they wait for the bus.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Grand Forks, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: To increase the pedestrian experience in Grand Forks, this project tested improvements to crosswalks at a busy intersection. The City installed temporary curb extensions, designed to shorten the distance needed to cross the street and make pedestrians more visible to drivers. They also used paint to make the crosswalks more noticeable. Additionally, local high school students helped install a sidewalk mural nearby, along with flowerpots and benches. The pop-up demonstration was in place for one month, giving residents time to give their feedback. Since the project, the City Council approved plans for permanent curb extension at the intersection. Organizers hope data gathered will also inspire other streetscape improvements to make the community more walkable.
Grand Forks, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management
Description: This project will enable the Grand Rides Bike Share program to provide e-bikes and adaptive bikes to encourage ridership among people aged 50.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
![people icon](/sites/default/files/styles/card_icon/public/2020-07/icon-people.png?itok=1VDppQUn)
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
![download icon](/sites/default/files/styles/card_icon/public/2020-07/icon-download.png?itok=H1KkvZGb)
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
![mail icon](/sites/default/files/styles/card_icon/public/2020-07/icon-email.png?itok=cJNmjOcM)
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP North Dakota State Office
107 W. Main Avenue
Suite 125
Bismarck, ND 58501
United States