Chappell, NE

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Chappell Lakes aging facilities made visits less safe and enjoyable for older adults. The city upgraded bathrooms with automatic fixtures, replaced rotted poles, added solar lights for night fishing and installed durable picnic tables under shelters. Volunteers pitched in to paint and assemble items. These improvements created a cleaner, safer space for daily recreation and gatherings. One resident mentioned how peaceful it is now to sit out and enjoy the night and enjoy time with neighbors.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Stamps, AR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: A lack of accessible restrooms made Maya Angelou Park unwelcoming to older adults, people with disabilities and families with young children. To address this, the City of Stamps made several accessibility upgrades, including installing concrete sidewalks, new doors, hardware and handrails. The park, named for the late author, poet, and activist who grew up in Stamps, is located along the banks of Lake June.

Dallas, TX

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: As part of renovations to make the West Dallas Multipurpose Center accessible for people of all ages and abilities, the City of Dallas set out to improve a walking path on the center's grounds. A key goal: give older adults opportunities to exercise and spend time with their grandchildren. To achieve this, the city installed five ADA-compliant benches along the path, which runs alongside a playground. Project organizers say the benches increase walkability at the center, which offers Dallas residents social services, child care and other resources. The benches give visitors a place to rest as they stroll the walking path or supervise children as they play.