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Community Gardens of Tucson (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
The Blue Moon Community Garden in Tucson is located next a 17-story apartment building with hundreds of residents, many of whom are older adults. However, the garden lacked shade and amenities, including public bathrooms and benches, which discouraged potential volunteers. Community Gardens of Tucson, which manages twenty gardens across the city, installed tables, benches and pop-up shade structures. They also built raised garden beds, improved pathways and added a compostable toilet onsite. The improvements allow garden to offer more diverse programming for community members, which has led to more volunteer engagement.
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Spearfish, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: This project improved crosswalks -- as well as directional signage -- in Spearfish. Organizers worked to identify areas frequented by older adults. Then they ensured intersections in those areas had curb cuts, making them more accessible.
Charlotte, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Charlotte's Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a popular place for pedestrians, but the path through the Parkwood underpass tunnel was dark and uninviting. Working with local partners, Brand the Moth gave the tunnel new life. The organization commissioned two local artists to design a mural, which volunteers helped install during a community paint day. The new artwork represents Charlotte's people, communities and nature. Residents and visitors can now take a walking tour through the mural. Project organizers say they hope the public art project attracts more people to use the greenway.
Bennington, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: After the Town of Bennington removed an out-of-date play structure, Stark Street Park was essentially an empty field. To draw residents of all ages back to the Park, the Town's Office of Community Development devised a plan to add a natural playground, bicycle pump track and a quarter-mile walking path. This project added an accessible path, which loops around the playground. In addition, the Town planted a pollinator garden with perennial plants attractive to butterflies and bees, installed two wooden benches and erected a welcome sign at the park entrance. Since these improvements, the nearby hospital obtained land and trails, which connect to Stark Street Park. The town has also added a mountain bike course onsite.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: City officials set out to revitalize the underused Francisco Elias Esquer Park, located around the corner from a large public housing community for older adults in Tucson's Barrio Blue Moon neighborhood. To address the needs of locals with disabilities, volunteers installed a wheelchair accessible walking path, benches and a dog comfort station for service animals. They also added passive water harvesting basins to draw birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife. At a planting party for community members -- one of several events to publicize the new amenities -- neighbors spent a day digging in the dirt and enjoying a renewed sense of community.
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: This project will develop a design competition to promote accessory dwelling units and create a model plan catalog featuring ADUs that support a variety of needs, including for older adults and multigenerational families.
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