Hartford, CT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: This project improved accessibility at Pope Park for older adults and people with disabilities. Project organizers installed ADA-compliant picnic tables with benches, designed to accommodate individuals using scooters or wheelchairs. The added amenities upgraded an area of the park with a play area and spray pool for small children. In this predominantly low-income neighborhood few homes have front or back yards, making Pope Park an important outdoor space for residents of all ages. Project organizers say the new seating highlighted a need for more accessible pathways in the park, which are now being designed.

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.

Paonia, CO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: The Town of Paonia made several improvements to Poulos Park, including construction of an accessible path, repairs to a wall, installation of new lighting and the addition of a conversation circle bench designed by local artists. The town also received the donation of a bronze sculpture to display in the park. Since these upgrades, a local theater company now uses the outdoor space, which also acts as a concert venue.