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City of Corning (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Wynn Park is home to a paved, tree-lined walking path, which members of the local Silver Sneakers walking club use frequently. However, that path lacked seating options. To increase accessibility for people of all ages and abilities, the City of Corning installed ADA-compliant benches along the walking track and on the nearby Clay County Courthouse grounds. Volunteers also beautified the courthouse campus by planting flowers. Organizers say the improvements give older adults places to rest that are welcoming and beautiful.
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See More Projects Like This One
Ashland, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A survey showed residents in Ashland wanted more outdoor seating in the city's downtown. As part of larger efforts to revitalize the commercial district the City worked with Ashland Main Street to install decorative benches. The City engaged teams of artists -- including college students and staff from the local food co-op -- to design artwork for the seating. Then, with the help of volunteers, project organizers then installed one bench on every block of Ashland's nine-block commercial area. Each depicts imagery related to the community's identity, including scenes from local history or ecology. Paying homage to nearby Lake Superior, several benches have a water theme. Project organizers say Ashland is known as the mural capital of Wisconsin, and the benches work with other public art installations to draw people to visit downtown.
Morrilton, AR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Organizers with Action Services noticed that many participants in their day program faced solitary, sedentary lives at home. So they set out to create an outdoor therapy and gathering space, designed to be accessible to people of all ages and abilities. First, volunteers poured a concrete slab to serve as a play surface. They then added a basketball hoop and oversized checkerboard painted on the pavement. They also installed benches and picnic tables onsite. To give community members access to fresh, healthy produce, they set up garden boxes for growing fruits and vegetables and planted fruit trees. Organizers say the improvements have led to more older adults spending time outdoors, actively participating in activities.
Dunedin, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project added universal-access picnic tables to the playground at the library. It also created a story walk with signage explaining the city's history and other distinctions.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Poplar Bluff, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Trails
Description: Poplar Bluff lacked a safe, continuous route connecting city neighborhoods to the Wolf Creek Trail, limiting mobility for older adults who rely on trails for recreation and access to services. The project built a 1.8-mile ADA-accessible concrete connector and installed an ADA bench, linking the city's trail system to 21 miles of forest paths. This permanent improvement opens year-round access to nature and supports physical and mental well-being. Early counts show more than 1,000 users, and the trail has spurred community events and investment. One resident said, "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see people on that trail."
Blytheville, AR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: A walk audit of Blytheville's downtown revealed many crosswalks didn't include curb cuts, making them difficult to navigate for people with disabilities. Because of this, people using wheelchairs or pushing strollers had to venture into the street to access a ramp. To address this, Main Street Blytheville poured concrete to create 20 curb ramps. Organizers say the ramps make downtown more walkable and inclusive for people of all ages and abilities. One local business owner said, "I didn't even realize how much we needed those until you did this project. I have seen new faces coming into my store and I believe it was because you made it easier for them to get around when they visit." MainStreet organizers report the project has since spurred the City to address other pedestrian infrastructure needs, including leveling uneven sidewalks.
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