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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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New Orleans, LA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
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Dennis, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Dennis Center for Active Living added an accessible outdoor patio to address the lack of space for social activities, a need heightened by pandemic isolation. The project built a 20x20 concrete platform with a wheelchair-accessible ramp, installed benches and placed six raised garden beds. Volunteers helped assemble furniture and plant flowers. The patio now hosts picnics, gardening and intergenerational events. "The DCAL Garden Patio is icing on the cake," said the project director, noting it fulfills a long-held vision for an inviting, inclusive gathering place.
Nowata, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: An unused alley in downtown Nowata was transformed into a welcoming space for older adults and other residents to gather. The project added ADA-compliant benches and tables, flower beds, lighting, a modular stage and anchors for an outdoor movie screen. The alley now hosts events like movie nights and awareness programs, creating a consistent venue for community activities. One organizer noted that experiencing meaningful and fun activities now available will help the community come together.
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."
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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