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City of Carlisle (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
This project set out to enhance the City of Carlisle's walking trails and downtown area. To achieve this, the City installed benches, planters, bicycle racks and banner-sign mounts. Those improvements helped Carlisle contribute to its goal of becoming a more walkable city with an attractive, functional downtown.
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See More Projects Like This One
Gulfport, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The City of Gulfport hoped to create a venue for educational programming, giving residents the opportunity to learn in nature. To do this, they installed a pavilion to be used as an outdoor classroom. The space serves local schools, as well as members of the wider community. Since installation, the City has worked to complete a nature trail system onsite.
New Ulm, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Downtown Action Team partnered with Minnesota Main Street to encourage residents of all ages to come downtown, walk down main street and learn about local history. To encourage socializing, they rearranged underutilized benches downtown, grouping some with new outdoor tables to create places for residents to sit and linger. Organizers installed plaques featuring photos and a brief narrative on the benches. Additionally, they adorned tabled with imagery and text explaining New Ulm's history.
Woodbury, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A vacant parking lot in downtown Woodbury offered no safe or inviting space for residents to gather. The FAF transformed it into LOT 323, a pop-up park with seating, shade, lighting and ADA-accessible features. The space hosted concerts, wellness events and live mural painting, drawing thousands and boosting volunteer engagement among older adults. "These events made me want to get involved," said one resident. The city has committed to continuing LOT 323 while plans for redevelopment move forward.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Des Moines, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Older adults at South Side Library faced barriers to technology and browsing due to vision and mobility issues, limiting access to resources. The library installed large-print keyboards on all public computers and added magnification tools throughout collections. It also provided mobility aids like a wheelchair, walker and cane. These changes eased stress and encouraged independence. Patrons now browse DVDs and use computers with confidence. One visitor said after borrowing a rollator, "I'll be visiting the library way more often now."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Des Moines, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Capturing data and feedback from residents
Description: The Iowa League of Cities Organizers partnered the City of Marshalltown and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to hold educational workshops on data analytics. Workshop leaders taught community members how to use publicly-available government data to asses issues important to older adults, including safety, walkability, accessibility, public finance and housing. Using feedback gathered from the community as an information source, the League of Cities demonstrated how to map local mobility features. The City has used learnings from the project to inform decisions about public transportation routes and accessibility improvements. Organizers hope the workshops provide a model for other localities looking to engage the community through open data.
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