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City of Charleston (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
This project upgraded Charleston's East End Dog Park to make it usable for pet owners of all ages. The City planted trees, installed shade structures and added seating. They also made repairs to the park's water source and planted grass. In addition, City workers fenced off a section of the dog park specifically for smaller dogs, keeping them separate from larger breeds that can intimidate them.
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Marsing, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Owyhee County ranks near the bottom in Idaho for health outcomes, and only 38% of residents have access to exercise opportunities. To change that, Marsing installed an ADA-compliant outdoor fitness court with seven workout stations on school grounds, creating free access to strength and mobility training. A ribbon-cutting marked its opening, and plans include Fit and Fall classes to encourage use. The court offers a lasting hub for wellness, promoting physical activity and social connection for older adults in a rural area where options were scarce.
Wellston, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Wellston's park lacked safe, accessible features, forcing families to travel elsewhere for recreation and creating barriers for older adults. The town installed ADA-compliant picnic tables with UV shade coverings and created a safe walking area, with volunteers helping to ensure proper grading. These upgrades made the park a welcoming space for gatherings and outdoor activity. The improvements have sparked interest in adding features like a splash pad and expanded trails, signaling momentum for long-term revitalization.
Grants, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project will enhance City Hall Park with new picnic tables, benches, improved ramadas, and landscaping. These upgrades will create a welcoming space for older adults to enjoy outdoor activities.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Charleston, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: This project assisted low-income older adults with home repairs and maintenance, allowing them to safely age in place in their homes. Faith in Action's Honey Do Crews preformed a variety of tasks for older adults in Kanawha and Putnam Counties, from changing lightbulbs to repainting porches. In total, grant funds supported 16 projects. One participant was living in a home with a flimsy, glass patio door installed where a proper front door should have been. To lock the door, she would insert a broom handle across the doorway. Faith in Action purchased a new door with a deadbolt and a volunteer installed it. "I feel like I've been released from prison," the homeowner said. "I love my new door."
South Charleston, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Digital Connectivity for Disasters
Description: Frequent disasters left older adults in West Virginia without reliable power or digital skills to access emergency resources. Heart+Hand equipped more than 300 residents with 72-hour emergency buckets and solar chargers to keep phones and medical devices powered during outages. Over 200 older adults learned to use tablets to find critical relief information, and tablets purchased for classes will sustain training long term. These efforts reduced anxiety, improved resilience and fostered community support through volunteer engagement.
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