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Canopy South (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
As part of efforts to revitalize a vacant building in Upland Park, this project made accessibility upgrades nearby. Project organizers installed a new walking path and accessible seating onsite. To beautify the space, volunteers worked to create public art. Additionally, this project replaced temporary garden beds with permanent raised-bed planters, which allow people to garden without having to squat down -- making the activity possible for people of all ages and abilities.
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Marshall, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The county will install outdoor exercise equipment and create a community space geared toward older adult residents. The county currently has no gyms or fitness centers with adult exercise equipment.
St. Thomas, VI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project will add shaded seating to a new recreational space -- part of efforts to revitalize an area decimated by hurricanes. Other new amenities will include a playground, skate and bike park, basketball court and open field space.
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Mujeres con Poder addressed barriers that made Kozy Park difficult to use for everyday activities, especially for older adults who needed places to rest and feel safe staying longer. Limited seating and unclear safety information meant some residents shortened visits or avoided the park, despite its role as a neighborhood gathering space. The project added benches and safety and wellness signage and paired these upgrades with community walks and planning sessions centered on resident input. The changes had an immediate effect. One grandmother shared that a bench near the playground now allows her to bring her grandson more often because she can sit in the shade while he plays. Together, these improvements supported more consistent park use and strengthened ongoing collaboration around safety and reducing isolation for older adults.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Omaha, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance repair and services
Description: Project Houseworks addressed safety and stability risks faced by low-income older adults living in aging homes where deferred repairs, mobility barriers and high energy costs threatened independence. Through its Aging in Place work, the organization delivered no-cost repairs and accessibility improvements, including grab bars, ramps, lighting upgrades and critical fixes to roofing, HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. Weatherization and utility support helped reduce ongoing household costs. Follow-up showed most households remained safely housed months after service, with fewer hazards and lower energy strain. The work also strengthened partnerships and data tracking, supporting earlier interventions and future expansion. One homeowner described the impact of improved lighting and storage, saying it changed everything, making daily routines safer and calmer and allowing the household to remain at home with greater confidence.
Omaha, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: This project will create safer crossings near two busy bus stops in an urban neighborhood. The city will pilot the use of temporary pedestrian refuge islands, along with ADA-compliant ramps and added LED lighting.
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