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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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Salyersville, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Older adults lacked shaded seating in the community park, making walking trails and playground visits uncomfortable. The council installed canopies over 16 benches and added a sound system for the stage, creating shaded resting areas and enabling events. Volunteers contributed significant time to complete the improvements. "These improvements have been such a great addition to the park and should provide many years of enjoyment," said a local official. The upgrades transformed the park into a welcoming space for older adults and families, encouraging outdoor activity and social engagement.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Estherville, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: To improve its recreation facilities, the City of Estherville asked residents for their ideas about how to improve local outdoor spaces. In response to this feedback, the City added special playground swings at the community's parks that are suitable for users of various skills, sizes and ages. The generation swings are two swings in one -- a combined adult swing and a swing for babies and toddlers. This enables children to swing face-to-face with their adult.
Union City, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Christian City replaced a lost dog park to preserve a vital gathering space for older adults. The new park includes fenced areas with accessible entrances, benches and a shaded gazebo, creating a safe spot for exercise and social connection. Volunteers cleared the lot and helped prepare the site, and a ribbon-cutting marked its opening. Residents say the space eases loneliness and fosters friendships. One woman noted, "It's a wonderful welcoming gathering place" and has helped her make and enjoy new friendships.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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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