AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
City of Elk City (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Elk City added nine new table gardens -- designed to accommodate gardeners who use wheelchairs or can't bend easily -- to make its community garden more accessible and appealing to all ages. To accommodate the table gardens, the City laid down gravel. They also added three benches installed on concrete pads. The improvements spurred the City to take on the expense of the garden's water, sewer and electric usage. Since the improvements, the City is exploring the possibility of adding shade structures to shield the benches from the sun, as well as hanging baskets of flowers or vegetables.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Arcata, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Residents of a 60-unit affordable housing complex, many previously unhoused and living with disabilities, faced isolation and difficulty adjusting to stable housing. To address this, the organization created a community garden with raised beds and accessible paths, giving tenants a chance to garden and connect. The space now fosters pride and teamwork, with residents planning seasonal crops and hosting volunteer-supported projects. One tenant said, "I couldn't wait to get my hands in the dirt and help feed my neighbors," showing the sense of community the garden has built.
Raymond, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Raymond Village Library hoped to create an accessible community amenity to foster intergenerational relationships. So they worked to create a community garden. Volunteers installed benches, shade structures and solar lighting, as well as a graded path and waist-high planters designed to be accessible for gardeners with disabilities. To make garden upkeep easier, they also added rain barrels and a drip irrigation system.
Fries, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Older adult residents in Fries faced limited access to fresh produce and few opportunities for physical activity, often having to choose between healthy food and fitness. The town transformed an empty lot beside the farmers market into a garden with six raised beds, landscaping and ADA-compliant benches. Materials for soil and tools were purchased to prepare for spring planting. The project sparked excitement among group members, creating a space for social engagement and healthier eating. Plans include annual expansion and community fundraisers. One participant noted the garden will help them stay active and afford nutritious food.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Cheyenne, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Older adults and residents with mobility challenges struggled to access all areas of the Rook Event Center because temporary wooden handrails were unstable and unsafe. Friends of the Rook replaced them with permanent, ADA-compliant handrails at key locations, including the top level, doorway transition and patio ramp. Volunteers assisted with design and cleanup. The new handrails improved safety and accessibility, enabling older adults to navigate the space confidently. At a recent fundraiser, many used the handrails to reach the lower level, and the project sparked community interest in further accessibility upgrades.
Carnegie, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: The Kiowa Tribe will host a Tiny Home for Elders Design Competition to develop affordable, accessible, and culturally relevant housing for older adults. This initiative aims to generate innovative housing solutions that support aging in place and older adult well-being, while reflecting Kiowa traditions.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Oklahoma State Office
126 N Bryant Avenue
Edmond (Oklahoma City), OK 73034
United States