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Wellston, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Wellston's park lacked safe, accessible features, forcing families to travel elsewhere for recreation and creating barriers for older adults. The town installed ADA-compliant picnic tables with UV shade coverings and created a safe walking area, with volunteers helping to ensure proper grading. These upgrades made the park a welcoming space for gatherings and outdoor activity. The improvements have sparked interest in adding features like a splash pad and expanded trails, signaling momentum for long-term revitalization.

Milwaukee, WI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: As part of the ongoing efforts to improve Gardner Park, the City of Milwaukee added a new community gathering space. Located in the Menomonee River Hills neighborhood, the intergenerational space features a gravel patio area, as well as wheelchair-accessible tables with built-in game boards, benches, an information kiosk and new landscaping. Previously, the City installed a new playground, walking path and fitness equipment at the park. Project organizers say in recent years the neighborhood has welcomed an influx of new families -- including those from the Hmong community -- underscoring the need for a public space for neighbors to meet and socialize.

Flint, MI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: To make the Footbridge Park Plaza safer and more inviting, the Carriage Town Neighborhood Association added benches, trash receptacles and a dog clean-up station to the space. They also upgraded lighting, allowing visitors to more safely use the plaza at night. Many Carriage Town residents use the footbridge to walk to and from Flint's downtown. After the improvements, project organizers polled locals and found 80 percent said they were more likely to use the plaza. Neighbors have since begun work on a second plaza nearby.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Ada County, ID

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options

Description: Ada County lacks transportation options for many of its residents. To help local employers provide transportation for their employees, the Ada County Highway Department expanded its Commuteride program, which provides grants to small organizations and businesses -- many of whom are nonprofits or working directly with underserved populations -- to provide facility or mobility enhancements. The program provided shared bikes, bike racks, employee transit passes, bike repair stations, bike helmets, telework resources and breakroom amenities such as lockers and showers.

Boise, ID

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Supporting family caregivers

Description: Adapted Builds tackled the challenge of limited resources for caregivers and older adults living with disabilities by creating free instructional videos. One guides viewers through making homes ADA compliant, while the other offers strategies for balancing caregiving responsibilities. These step-by-step tools aim to improve safety and efficiency, reducing stress for families. Professionals interviewed during development praised the effort, noting how difficult it is for caregivers to find reliable, practical solutions.

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