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Commercial Street Community Improvement District (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
In the 1980s, many businesses moved out of Springfield's downtown. But in recent years, a new generation of entrepreneurs, artists and gig workers have begun repopulating the city's main commercial district. In light of the area's new vibrancy, the Commercial Street Community Improvement District is working to market the area and tell its story. The CID created a series of parklets with outdoor seating to give visitors a space to socialize and relax. They also commissioned a local artist to create a mural, using community feedback to inform the final design. The mural fits within a larger street art project. CID organizers say they hope these improvements will help the community develop a renewed sense of place.
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See More Projects Like This One
Cole, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To supplement American Rescue Plan Act funds being used to renovate a local park, the Town of Cole used grant funds to replace a dilapidated stage in the park, with a new accessible stage. The community looks forward to musicians returning to the stage for celebrations and events.
Viroqua, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project turned a portion of the library into an aviary and conducted classes on birdwatching there and at other sites, including Side Hollow Park.
Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Public plazas are not always grand sometimes they can make a big impact in a tiny space. The Rogers Park Business Alliance and other project organizers purchased a pop-up People Spot from the nearby Chicago neighborhood of Andersonville. The Alliance then deployed the People Spot on Clark Street, with the aim of amping up pedestrian engagement along Rogers Parks' commercial corridor. Also known as a parklet, the mini plaza extends from the sidewalk in what would otherwise be a parking space. Featuring new wood benches and greenery, the parklet offers visitors a pleasant spot to rest or eat lunch. In the future, the Alliance will move the pop-up plaza to different locations throughout the Rogers Park neighborhood.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Springfield, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Emergency preparedness skills
Description: This project will provide disaster preparedness kits and safety presentations to older residents in southwest Missouri.
Bolivar, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will install shaded seating beside the new inclusive playground. It aims to provide a comfortable space for grandparents to connect with their families, fostering intergenerational relationships.
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