LaBelle, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Downtown LaBelle was once a thriving destination, but in recent years many businesses have moved to different parts of town. Particularly challenging was an unusable tennis court, which sat vacant right in the heart of the downtown. To make the area more attractive to residents and visitors, the LaBelle Downtown Revitalization Corporation created a new, multigenerational space in the footprint of the tennis court. Project organizers removed the court's worn concrete and equipped the space with a roofed gazebo, placing seating and game tables underneath.

Eufaula, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The City of Eufaula hoped to draw people to local businesses by increasing foot traffic on Main Street. To do this, the City created a music trail downtown. They installed 11 pairs of outdoor percussion instruments -- including xylophones and drums -- along a half-mile pathway, which winds past community landmarks. Additionally, project organizers displayed a map to inform passersby of the location of each instrument. The project is part of larger efforts to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased social isolation among residents and left local businesses -- including many owned by Native community members -- struggling to stay afloat.

Pikeville, KY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The plaza welcoming visitors to Pikeville's Appalachian Center for the Arts was looking a little run down. To increase its curb appeal and encourage tourism, the City initiated a multi-phase effort to redesign the area to be an outdoor gathering space. They resurfaced the plaza with custom, decorative pavers, installed benches, improved landscaping and added a shade canopy. The plaza redesign made downtown Pikeville more walkable and added a safe, outdoor space for visitors to enjoy music and art -- something much needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since these improvements, the City has used the plaza for public events and improved nearby sidewalks and crosswalks.