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Center for Healthy Aging (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Many of Reno's Native residents have limited access to fresh produce. To provide nutritious food to local families, the Center for Healthy Aging concerted a vacant lot into an intergenerational, indigenous community garden. The Center wanted to ensure the space was accessible and welcoming, so it installed ADA-compliant benches, raised garden beds and LED lighting in the space. Today, the garden hosts programming for people of all ages, including culinary classes, culturally relevant gardening instruction and a harvest festival.
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Chesapeake, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Residents in a low-income Chesapeake neighborhood lacked access to fresh food and safe spaces for social engagement. The project created an accessible community garden at a local library with raised beds, adaptive tools, wheelchair-friendly seating and Mobi-mat paths. Volunteers hosted a "Golden Age Garden Party" featuring health screenings, cooking demonstrations and chair yoga. The garden now provides fresh produce and a welcoming space for older adults to gather and exercise. "I now have access to fresh vegetables in my own backyard," said one resident.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Newark, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Newark's Central Ward struggles with food insecurity, leaving older adults and families without access to fresh produce. To address this, the organization expanded a school-based garden at Louise A. Spencer Elementary, adding beds designed for older adults and providing adaptive tools. Residents now maintain the garden during summer, ensuring sustainability and fostering intergenerational ties. One student said gardening with his grandmother "reminds him of his dad and helps him feel close to his culture."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: North St. Louis faces severe food insecurity, leaving older adults with limited access to fresh produce and safe outdoor spaces. Urban Harvest STL grew over 1,000 pounds of food at Fresh Starts Garden, donating most to programs serving older adults. The team installed accessible raised beds and picnic tables and repaired a generator to help power tools, making gardening easier for those with mobility challenges. Volunteers and apprentices age 50-plus joined in, and the season ended with a celebration of 100 community members. The garden manager said, "Gardening is very rewarding... The garden benefits the whole community because they get to see something positive going on."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Reno, NV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Older adults in Washoe County faced isolation and limited access to nature due to mobility challenges and costly adaptive equipment. To address this, the Foundation purchased five all-terrain wheelchairs and launched an adaptive walking program, making the chairs available for free at multiple parks. A marketing campaign spread awareness, and older adults now use the chairs weekly to explore trails they once could not reach. The project sparked new partnerships and plans for more adaptive gear. One participant shared, "I didn't think I would ever see that many different species of birds again," after using a chair to enjoy birdwatching.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Reno, NV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: A home-sharing pilot will match older adults with spare rooms to renters seeking affordable housing. The program will support aging in place by providing additional income, shared living support and regular oversight to keep arrangements stable and safe.
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