See More Projects Like This One

Farmington, CT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: This project will enhance accessibility in a senior center and community parks by adding features like push button door openers, accessible kiosks, and specialized equipment.

Lane County, OR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: Vida McKenzie Community Center rebuilt its role as a community hub by installing an advanced AV system with a Hearing Loop. This upgrade removed barriers for residents with hearing loss, allowing older adults to fully participate in events like concerts, workshops and social gatherings. Public classes will teach users how to connect their hearing aids to the system, ensuring long-term accessibility. One attendee shared, "The sound quality in the new Vida McKenzie Community System is amazing. It made it possible for me to fully engage in last Saturday's workshop."

Duluth, MN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: Lincoln Park Resource Center transformed an abandoned lot into an accessible community garden to address food insecurity and social isolation. The project added ramps, handrails and benches, making the space safer for older adults. Murals honoring local leaders turned the site into a vibrant gathering place for gardening, fitness classes and events. Residents now use the garden for fresh produce and social activities. A leader in the neighborhood association said "now community members come up to staff as they share stories of what was and what is now and how appreciative they are of the changes especially since the space is now a resourceful space for many."

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Oxford, AL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Oxford's historic downtown is home to restaurants, shops, art galleries, historic churches and a first-class performing arts center. Its brick-paved sidewalks are great for strolling, but the area lacked seating options. To address this, Historic Main Street Oxford installed metal benches, as well as two bike racks. This enables Main Street visitors to grab an ice cream cone with a friend and rest comfortably in the shade. The new amenities came during a downtown streetscaping project, which included installing accessible sidewalks, new lighting and improved landscaping.

Mount Zion, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Rising food costs left many residents, especially older adults on fixed incomes, struggling to afford groceries and toiletries. In addition, pet food shortages forced families to give up pets. To address this, the city installed two blessing boxes, one for people and one for pets, and stocked them for the holidays. Older adults helped decorate the boxes, turning the project into a social event that eased isolation. The boxes now provide discreet access to essentials and have inspired local churches to add food pantries. "People were laughing and having conversations they would have never had the opportunity to do so," said a volunteer.

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