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Camden Community Partnership (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
A vacant lot on North Camden's waterfront was unappealing and attracted illegal dumping. The Camden Community Partnership decided to give the lot new life by turning it into a gathering space for residents of all ages. As part of larger efforts to activate the space, the Partnership commissioned a local artist to create a mural onsite. The artist asked older adults questions about their community and used their responses to inform the mural's design, which volunteers helped paint onto a nearby building. Since its completion, project organizers say the mural has served as a model for other local public art projects, with three additional murals in the works. The new greenspace has also tied into other community building work, including development of trail along the Delaware and Cooper Rivers.
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See More Projects Like This One
Springfield, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: In the 1980s, many businesses moved out of Springfield's downtown. But in recent years, a new generation of entrepreneurs, artists and gig workers have begun repopulating the city's main commercial district. In light of the area's new vibrancy, the Commercial Street Community Improvement District is working to market the area and tell its story. The CID created a series of parklets with outdoor seating to give visitors a space to socialize and relax. They also commissioned a local artist to create a mural, using community feedback to inform the final design. The mural fits within a larger street art project. CID organizers say they hope these improvements will help the community develop a renewed sense of place.
Opelika, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Organizers with Opelika Main Street hoped to draw more visitors downtown. To do this, they activated an underused public space by adding outdoor games. Volunteers installed a giant, colorful chess and checkers set, suitable for people of all ages to enjoy. Organizers say the new game center represents a safe place for residents of all ages to gather.
Lawrence, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Downtown Lawrenceburg wanted to create inviting low-impact activities that encouraged older adults to walk, socialize and stay engaged. Tee'd Up Downtown, a portable mini golf course, turned the square into a playful walking experience with custom holes, accessible putters and wayfinding signs guiding participants through more than a mile of downtown. Older adults lingered, visited shops and moved at their own pace. A grandfather said the course let him and his grandson "take their time... and play in a way that worked for both of them." The project boosted foot traffic and sparked broader discussions about improving pedestrian-focused public space design.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Camden, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Residents faced dangerous conditions near the new waterfront park, where missing crosswalks and poor bike lane design made access unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists, including older adults. Camden Community Partnership restriped State Street and Harrison Avenue, installed over 300 bike delineators, curb ramps and flashing bike signs, and added a bus stop bench. These changes slowed traffic and improved visibility while prompting plans for permanent upgrades. As one parent noted, "It will definitely help my kids get to the new 60-acre park to ride the trails."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Camden, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: This project will support the Golden Brush Collective's creation of a mural in Camden's Centerville neighborhood in order to celebrate the area's cultural history and engage residents in the design process.
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