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City of Leadville (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
Many residents weren't aware of underused park in Leadville's downtown. To increase the park's visibility, the City revamped the space. They replaced eight benches and installed twinkle lights and a permanent fire pit made from a converted ore cart. Community members chipped in by creating mosaics on planters and painting a mural. The City held a well-attended kick-off party for the park, which featured fire pits and giveaways.
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Crossville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Cumberland County converted a picnic shelter into an outdoor classroom to reduce isolation and create inclusive learning spaces. The project added limestone benches, planter boxes, flagstone flooring and whiteboards, and opened with a ribbon-cutting event. Agencies and nonprofits are already scheduling classes on gardening, health and art. Free access removes economic barriers and fosters intergenerational engagement. "We feel the sky is the limit on the number of classes as well as the subject matter that will take place in this space," the county noted.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Seattle, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Pickleball's surge in Seattle left many lined courts without nets, limiting access for older adults who relied on the sport for fitness and social connection. To address this, the association installed five semi-permanent nets at three sites, including lighted courts for evening play, and organized free clinics for beginners and women-only sessions. These efforts transformed neglected spaces into active hubs, prompting community funding to add more nets and complete two major centers. Today, residents enjoy year-round play and multigenerational gatherings. As one participant shared, "The laughter and smiles brought from engaging pickleball in safe communities was heartwarming."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
McAlester, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Residents in a low-income neighborhood of McAlester lacked accessible recreation options. The city converted an underused tennis court into two pickleball courts, repairing the surface and installing nets and poles to create a safe, permanent space for active living. The courts encourage multi-generational play and social connection, offering older adults a low-impact way to stay healthy. The city plans to maintain the courts and expand amenities at the park, including a splash pad and trail upgrades, to further support active lifestyles.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Lakewood, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Older adults who walk the Alameda Corridor to reach shops and health care often lacked safe places to pause, making trips exhausting and limiting independence. Alameda Connects installed a concrete pad with a bench and trash bin at a key resting point. It also added colorful ground murals at three sites, including a transit stop and Easterseals Colorado, to make the spaces feel safer and more welcoming. The project united older adults and students in painting days that sparked friendships and inspired neighborhood cleanups and business interest in murals. One teen said, "Thank you for letting me volunteer. This project gave me purpose."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Montrose, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public or private transit access
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Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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