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City of Columbia (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
As part of efforts to activate space and increase the vitality of Columbia's downtown, this project created the city's first parklet. Parklets transform on-street parking spaces into public gathering spaces. Originally intended to be temporary, Columbia's miniature park consists of a ground-level, fenced-in deck featuring an art installation, a cafe table and chairs and new planters. While several nearby restaurants lack outdoor seating space, the parklet remedied this, giving visitors a space to eat and socialize. To gather public feedback about the new space, city staff displayed a QR code onsite, which linked to an online survey. Spurred by the success of this project, organizers made plans to add more parklets downtown. City staff have also looked into creating a parklet ordinance, which would allow local businesses to create similar spaces in the future.
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See More Projects Like This One
Lynchburg, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Residents wanted to use the Dunbar Community Schoolyard for walking and gathering, but unclear access and a lack of signage made the large campus feel uncertain and underused. The City of Lynchburg installed a pedestrian wayfinding system at key entrances, using clear, large-format signs to welcome public use and guide people through the space. The project helped residents understand how the schoolyard could be used outside school hours. Older adults shared memories tied to the campus and expressed renewed optimism about its future. The wayfinding system strengthened coordination among city staff, schools and residents and marked an early step toward broader improvements that support regular use of the space.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Loiza, PR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Older adults in Torrecilla Baja lacked a free, accessible outdoor place to gather, be active and take part in wellness programs. The project built the Gazebo Amor Mayor at the community center, adding accessible benches and game tables, raised garden beds and solar lighting. Older residents helped through volunteering and a wellness planting workshop. The gazebo created a permanent gathering place that reduces isolation and supports ongoing wellness, cultural and intergenerational activities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Macon, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Before 24/7 television, air-conditioning and smartphones, sitting outside and talking over a game of chess or checkers was a popular pastime. To give residents of all ages in South Macon a place to gather, South Macon Art Revitalization Technology purchased outdoor checkerboard tables and two oversized Connect Four games. A crew of neighborhood residents serve as volunteer game instructors onsite. "Chess, checkers and Connect Four are games that require critical thinking, patience and skill," SMART secretary Frankie Lewis said, noting that many older people in the neighborhood are accomplished chess and checkers players. "We want to make sure their skills don't get lost due to the lack of activity, and we want the elders in our community to share their knowledge with people here of all ages, but especially our youth."
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Richland County, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Engaging residents alongside thought leaders in problem solving
Description: To help facilitate community conversations around race, bias, inclusivity and equality, the Richland Library created a curriculum for community groups, nonprofits and businesses. To launch the Let's Talk Race program, library staff brought in a consultant to develop training materials, as well as videos and web content. All materials are available to the community for free. Additionally, organizers wanted to enable other communities to replicate the work, so they built an open-source digital toolkit. Organizers hope the curriculum creates a safe space for important -- but often difficult -- community discussions.
Columbia, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: Older adults experiencing homelessness in Columbia face long waits for housing and growing health needs. Transitions is converting a new property into ADA-accessible apartments and an Adult Day Care center with wider bathrooms, lift assistance and specialized equipment. These upgrades will provide safe housing and care for medically fragile residents, reducing reliance on nursing homes. "I am so happy and excited about the work performed," shared one client, highlighting the importance of supportive spaces.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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