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Juneau, AK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Uneven terrain kept visitors with mobility challenges from exploring the public garden, limiting older adults' access to nature and scenic views. The group built an ADA-compliant path of precast pavers leading to a bench overlooking the gardens and ocean. They also added wide steps to manage slope. Volunteers landscaped adjoining beds, and a ribbon-cutting drew 75 guests, including wheelchair and walker users. The path is a permanent improvement that opens the arboretum to residents and strengthens community ties. One guest said, "To have the arboretum now be a place which I can easily access in my wheelchair and feel truly welcome is a wonderful gift."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
La Crosse, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Cia Siab -- a nonprofit serving the local Hmoob community -- wanted to ensure its community center was accessible to people of all ages and abilities. But the stairs at the building's entrance posed a challenge to community elders who use wheelchairs, scooters or other mobility devices. To fix this, the City of La Crosse installed two ramps. The center offers programming to the community, including Hmoob language camp, women's circle and elders program. Access to the site is especially important for Hmong elders, who often struggle with depression, PTSD and social isolation due to their experiences of war, displacement and loss. Since installing the ramps, the City has looked for other community spaces that would benefit from accessibility upgrades.
Kansas City, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Kansas City lacked seating in parks, bus stops and social service areas, leaving older adults without safe places to rest during long waits or walks. Deferred maintenance and concentrated development deepened this gap, especially in Justice40 neighborhoods. The project installed 12 benches, including buddy benches, at six parks across five neighborhoods, adding concrete pads and memorial plaques for durability. These benches improve comfort, accessibility and community connectedness while advancing the city's Community for All Ages initiative. "It may seem like a small thing... but many of our public spaces do not have places for people to sit," said one of the project planners.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Minneapolis, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: Minneapolis faces a housing affordability crisis, leaving older adults and others with few options. Mill City Church launched IMBY to showcase accessory dwelling units as a solution, hosting two demonstration events, furnishing a model unit for immersive experiences and producing a short documentary. The effort raised awareness and mobilized advocates to consider ADUs for housing diversity. "We didn't really think about our backyard in terms of being a potential solution... but now we're considering building an ADU and being a part of the solution," said one participant.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Minneapolis, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Disaster Preparedness
Description: Progressive Pathways set out to help residents think realistically about what they would need during summer storms and flooding, since many had never planned for an emergency or talked with neighbors about how to respond. The sessions encouraged people to consider items for their bug-out bags and opened conversations that helped neighbors understand how they could support one another. The gatherings also built new social networks and led to a partnerships that will extend preparedness resources. Residents left with clearer ideas about how to manage future emergencies and will receive ongoing materials and reminders.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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