AARP Eye Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
See More Projects Like This One
Greenfield, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The City of Greenfield removed 250-square-feet of asphalt from a downtown parking lot, converting it to a pocket park -- a space for people instead of cars. The Fiske Avenue Pocket Park features benches, a chess table, a bike repair station, a pollinator garden and a quirky bee sculpture. Project organizers say the new, centrally located green space supportz a central goal of the city's Sustainable Master Plan: to create a vibrant, walkable downtown. Additionally, removing the asphalt supported efforts to mitigate stormwater runoff. The project's success also helped the City secure a 200,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation.
San Francisco, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project enlivened an alleyway with murals, planters, tables and chairs, ADA-compliant benches, music performances and more.
Kendallville, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The City of Kendallville was looking to add more greenspace to its downtown as part of a streetscape revitalization project. To achieve this, the City created an ADA-compliant pocket park with walking paths, tables, benches, shade pergolas and new trees and flowers. Organizers also added a large driveway to accommodate the village's mobile stage, which allows the space to host outdoor entertainment. Ambient lighting and parking pads for food trucks rounded out the improvements, which make the park welcoming for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Shawnee Mission, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management
Description: To expand access to cycling, this project expanded the BikeWalkKC bikeshare program. Parks and Recreation Foundation of Johnson County set out to install bikeshare stations in four parks, including a new park located near a residential area with a senior living community. The stations serve four municipalities -- Olathe, Prairie Village, Lenexa, Shawnee and Overland Park. To measure the bikeshare program's popularity, each station uses smart technology to track each bike's location, how frequently it is checked out, the length of each checkout and who used it. Organizers plan to specifically market the service to older adults, who represent a growing share of Johnson County's population.
Lawrence, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project will enlarge a community garden next to an affordable housing community. Four raised beds will ensure accessibility for residents with disabilities, as well as for older volunteers. Excess produce will be donated to local food banks.
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 Kansas State Office
6220 SW 29th Street
Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66614
United States