AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
City of Oaks Foundation (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
As part of efforts to set up a new community center at a donated house, the City of Oaks Foundation purchased furnishings and equipment to host events onsite. To get the property ready, the Foundation hosted several volunteer days, where community members helped restore trails and clear underbrush onsite. In the months that followed, programming at the Joslin House and Garden ranged from plein air painting, art showings, a nature event featuring live owls and other creatures, a mother-grandmother tea, gardening workshops and a lecture on World Way I history. Project organizers say these events -- and others -- have helped with fundraising efforts as work on the house and surrounding gardens continues. The Foundation estimates more than 400 visitors each year have attended events in the community space, with many others visiting to stroll the property.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
St. Paul, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project installed a garden with native and pollinator-friendly plants at a local elementary school. Residents -- including a neighborhood Boy Scout troop -- pitched in to prepare the site and plant foliage. Community members have continued to tend to the garden since its installation. Spurred by the success of the garden, school staff area considering planting more native gardens in the future -- including rain gardens to absorb stormwater runoff.
Hettinger, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To expand recreation options for residents of Hettinger, this project activated Centennial Square, an underused space in the city's downtown. The Hettinger Area Chamber of Commerce added outdoor games to the square, including Jenga and chess. Organizers say they hope the games plaza draw people downtown and provide opportunities for intergenerational activities. "The biggest highlight of this project was the way that a few games brought together a diverse spread of community members of different ages," Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jasmin Fosheim said.
Rapid City, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Visitors in busy community spaces often had no place to sit, leaving people without a comfortable spot to rest during walks or long visits. To address this, the group partnered with a welding class to design and build two ADA-compliant benches, which were finished with powder coating and installed on new concrete pads. Placing them in the market park created the only seating in that area and offered shaded resting spots for people spending time there. Members said the project helped them recognize broader unmet needs in their community and inspired future efforts. One volunteer noted that the benches were placed in "perfect shaded areas", making the park easier for people to enjoy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Wake Forest, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: This project will conduct five walk audits over five months. Older volunteers will assist and present findings to the Town. Results will be included in the Age-Friendly Action Plan.
Wake Forest, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: The project will conduct five bike audits over five months. Older volunteers will assist and present findings to the Town. Results will be included in the Age-Friendly Action Plan.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP North Carolina State Office
5511 Capital Center Drive
Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27606
United States