See More Projects Like This One

Anchorage, AK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: This project will create new recreational and social opportunities for adults aged 50 with intellectual and developmental disabilities by improving Special Olympics Alaska's sports and fitness facility.

Anchorage, AK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: The Navy League Council created its Sea Services Memorial. The memorial is located at the USSAnchorageanchor site to honor the two ships of that name, as well as the Navy's role in Dutch Harbor during World War II. The Council refurbished an anchor onsite, improved landscaping and made accessibility updates. Organizers also installed storyboards describing each ship's historical significance.

Kennett Square, PA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: With the goal of supporting small businesses downtown, this project created the first parklet in Kennett Square. Before installing the mini-park, only one side of the borough's main street featured wide sidewalks and could be closed to vehicles on the weekends. Project organizers hoped to expand the space available for outdoor dining and gathering. To do this, the Historic Kennett Square repurposed three on-street parking spaces, installing deck flooring, adding overhead string lights and setting out picnic tables and planters. Four restaurants -- two coffee shops and two restaurants -- used the space. Volunteers designed the parklet be torn down ahead of the winter months and set back up in the spring. Project organizers say the parklet helped demonstrate the value of placemaking projects.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Richardson, TX

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: To test solutions for managing traffic and making streets safer for pedestrians and residents with mobility challenges, the City of Richardson conducted a demonstration project in the business district surrounding the Arapaho Center light rail and bus station. Dubbed a road diet, they temporarily removed two motor vehicle lanes, replacing them with bike lanes. They added an artistic pedestrian crosswalk with a blue and red pattern reflecting the City's new Innovation District branding. In addition, they removed curbs, constructed fencing, installed wayfinding signs and added landscaping. Throughout the demonstration the City collected data on traffic levels and speeds, as well as pedestrian and bike trips. They also collected resident feedback and found 78 percent supported keeping the bike lanes and 82 percent were in favor of the new crosswalk. In 2020, the City obtained a 100,000 grant to permanently install bike lanes along the route.

Dallas, TX

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Transportation Systems Change

Description: The project features a design competition, which invites participants to imagine pop-up placemaking options for a local farmers market. The parking lot for a local food bank will be re-imagined with better parking layout, a basketball court mural, and shaded space for customers to wait. A walk audit will identify potential areas for sidewalk improvements and the placement of benches.

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