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City of Myrtle Beach (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Addressing community health
└ Addressing community health
Using public art, the City of Myrtle Beach set out to spread the word about safe walking and biking, as well as COVID-19 public health protocols. To do this, the City hosted a competition for local artists of all ages, inviting them to submit designs with a safety theme. They then selected 10 winning designs and added text with safety messages to them. With the state Department of Transportation's blessing, the designs became colorful, vinyl wraps for traffic utility boxes at intersections around town. Organizers say the project demonstrated the value of public art, with residents and business owners looking for ways to replicate the results in other neighborhoods.
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Duluth, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: This project will invite older adults to become vibrant participants in Duluth's farmers markets and mobile grocery program by increasing opportunities to connect through volunteering, community visioning and intergenerational play.
Springfield, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: A new online order system and optional curbside pickup at Springfield's Old Capitol Farmers Market reduced shoppers' risk of COVID-19 exposure. The improvements ensured that older adults and SNAP users could access fresh and healthy food from the popular market. Downtown Springfield Inc. replaced SNAP tokens with Healthy Ways scannable cards, which limit the need for physical contact at checkout. Following the change, the market saw an increase in SNAP transactions. In addition, more than 150 community members took advantage of the curbside option, which reduced in-person foot traffic and provided a safe shopping alternative to those most at risk.
Philadelphia, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: This project helped patrons of the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Project organizers added a handwashing station to the sidewalk outside the Mission's building, giving unhoused people -- who often lack dependable access to bathroom facilities -- a way to keep germs at bay. They also worked with local artists to design window stickers, which helped keep shelter residents and those seeking food assistance separate, curbing the spread of the virus. Artists also designed sidewalk decals with social distancing instructions. This sparked efforts to engage those same artists in a mural project onsite. Organizers say the project inspired them to design the Mission's building to better accommodate unhoused people. Since the project completed, the organization also began work on a new pocket park onsite.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Lake City, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: This project will develop a downtown walking trail to support outdoor recreation and wellness. The trail will feature art, fitness courts, and engaging signage, enhancing health and well-being for residents, especially those over 50.
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