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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
Driggs, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The City of Driggs hoped to attract residents of all ages to Driggs' new downtown plaza, already home to a popular bocce ball court. The solution Add games. Project organizers set up a concrete foosball table and chess table. They also added chairs built to withstand the elements. A ribbon cutting ceremony drew locals, and now the plaza sees at least 10 people a day playing the interactive games.
Cut Bank, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will create a 1.4-mile paved, ADA-compliant path connecting the City of Cut Bank to the School Districts Sports Complex and Glacier Historical Museum. It aims to provide a safe walking route for pedestrians.
West Memphis, AR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The town of West Memphis hoped to promote community connections, cycling and walking. To achieve this, the town set up three parklets in its Main Street District, located near an expanded bike trail that links West Memphis with neighboring Memphis, Tennessee. Parklets -- mini street oases created in the footprint of a parking space -- provide places to sit, talk and gather. The West Memphis parklets each feature LED lighting and public art. Sculptures created from donated bicycles distinguish two of the parklets. The other parklet features new wooden benches and an oversized sculpture of a guitar, meant to pay homage to the town's musical heritage.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Springfield, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Emergency preparedness skills
Description: The project addressed the lack of practical disaster preparedness information for older adults who face frequent storms and often have needs that require specific planning. The grant supported 17 preparedness classes that offered guidance on assembling emergency kits and understanding how medications and mobility devices factor into planning. These sessions helped residents begin building essential supplies and increased awareness of how to prepare for emergencies.
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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