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City of Greenville Parks and Recreation Department (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
Walker Park -- a pocket park in the West Greenville neighborhood -- is a popular gathering place for residents, but the greenspace lacked accessibility features and shade. To address this, the City refurbished park benches and added an ADA-compliant shelter house with an entrance ramp. Additionally, they worked to give visitors more recreation options, replacing a dilapidated horseshoes pit and adding accessible game tables. Organizers say the additions help Greenville's older adults and intergenerational families take advantage of park amenities.
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North Las Vegas, NV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: North Las Vegas hoped to encourage residents to get outside for exercise and recreation. As part of its All the Best Paths are Taken by Foot campaign, the City installed concrete benches along walking paths within city parks. The benches sit along sidewalks and near outdoor athletic courts. When selecting parks to receive the benches, project organizers examined the existing amenities and prioritized areas with larger older adult populations. To help people navigate to nearby parks, the City erected wayfinding signs. Project organizers also launched a social media campaign and distributed flyers showcasing the improvements and describing the health benefits of walking.
Paonia, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The Town of Paonia made several improvements to Poulos Park, including construction of an accessible path, repairs to a wall, installation of new lighting and the addition of a conversation circle bench designed by local artists. The town also received the donation of a bronze sculpture to display in the park. Since these upgrades, a local theater company now uses the outdoor space, which also acts as a concert venue.
Missoula, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: To improve public health and increase residents' physical activity, the City of Missoula launched the Rx Trails program. Through the initiative, the local Parks and Recreation Department partners with local health care providers encourage patients to walk. The City worked to designate a path through McCormick Park as an Rx trail -- pathways featuring amenities including, drinking fountains, benches and accessible parking. They installed two benches and posted a map to help visitors navigate the trail. Additionally, they distributed promotional materials to residents to inform them about Rx Trails.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Greenville, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Residents in Berea, including many older adults, faced daily risks when walking along wide, high-traffic roads with limited pedestrian infrastructure. LiveWell Greenville responded by leading listening sessions and walk audits that engaged residents in documenting conditions near the community center, a major retail corridor and busy trail crossings. Participants observed blocked sidewalks, unsafe crossings and poor access to bus stops. One team member described the main corridor as a jarring experience built for fast-moving traffic rather than people. Findings were compiled into a community report that guided a new Neighborhood Connectivity Team, creating a clear roadmap for improving safety and building local capacity to continue advocating for safer walking routes.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Greenville County, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Mill Community Ministries hoped to increase the amount of healthy food it could provide to residents through its FoodShare program. To facilitate this, the organization purchased a refrigerated tractor trailer, which increased its cold storage capacity. Thanks to the trailer, Mill Village Farms delivered six times more deeply discounted produce in 2021 compared to the previous year, helping combat food insecurity in Greenville County. Project organizers say the increased storage capacity also helped expand Mill Village's network of partner organizations.
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