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City of Beaver Dam (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
As downtown revitalization advanced, residents wanted a way to honor local history. The city launched "Doors to Our Past," turning old doors into canvases for historical artwork. Fifteen doors depicting landmarks and traditions were created through collaboration between residents of all ages. The installation now forms a permanent art trail and has inspired plans for annual additions. One door featuring Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus sparked heartfelt memories of decades spent delighting children during the holidays.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Pikeville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: In a rural community with high poverty and an aging population, cultural isolation limited opportunities for engagement. To address this, Pikeville created an Indigenous History mural depicting the Trail of Tears, supported by a skilled artist and QR-coded videos for deeper learning. The unveiling event brought residents together for a guided tour, sparking dialogue about heritage and resilience. Now a permanent feature downtown, the mural serves as an educational tool and catalyst for similar projects, offering older adults a meaningful way to connect with history and foster unity.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Pittsburgh, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To bring vibrancy to Pittsburgh's Beechview neighborhood, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging engaged residents in a public art project. The result was Color Beechview. With the guidance of a local artist, community members wore LED lights on bodies, which they used to create light paintings through long-exposure technology. The resulting digital art depicts the silhouettes of Beechview residents, including children and older adults. SWPPA then displayed the art throughout the neighborhood, including on the sidewalk pavement in front of the senior center, on the side of light rail cars and along neighborhood fences. Organizers say key goals of the project were combatting social isolation and creating intergenerational connections. "We encouraged people who didn't know one another to reach across generations and across ethnicities to connect," Lively Pittsburgh's Ted Cmarada said.
Holdrege, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: A long-vacant building in downtown Holdrege left residents without a safe, accessible place to gather. To address this, the foundation created the Midtown Sculpture Garden, adding ADA-compliant seating, tables, decorative lighting, trees and a mural of a Nebraska sunset. Older adults joined a community painting day and quickly embraced the space, which now hosts casual visits and will serve as a venue for art festivals and musical events. "I'm feeling almost giddy with happy feelings when I hear and read about and see the sculpture garden. This will improve the...future for Holdrege," wrote one local resident, reflecting the pride and connection the project has sparked.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Bowling Green, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Disaster Preparedness
Description: Low-income residents needed clear, practical steps to prepare for tornadoes, floods and fires. Many lacked a plan, supplies and a single place to keep them. Community Action delivered two trainings for AmeriCorps Senior volunteers using SBP guidance. Participants received a Disaster Resilience Toolkit plus a fire blanket, first aid kit and a three-day survival backpack. The sessions walked through what to do before, during and after an event. Early outcomes show volunteers organizing go-kits at home, with follow-up planned to check progress.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Bowling Green, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: In Bowling Green's Delafield neighborhood, many older adults face hazards that make aging in place difficult. HOTEL INC addressed this by offering five home safety trainings for 55 residents and creating a display of affordable accessibility products. Volunteers completed simple modifications in 15 homes and distributed dozens of safety items, while more than 150 motion-sensor night lights were provided through trainings and displays. Residents reported greater independence, such as easier kitchen access and reduced fall risks. The effort built trust and sparked conversations about broader livability improvements like sidewalks and parks.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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