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Curry Ford West Inc. (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
To promote safe, physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Curry Ford West created a pop-up park on a vacant lot. During a community event, two-hundred volunteers constructed a labyrinth onsite made of brightly painted recycled pallets. The park remained in place for a month. Project organizers say the park and labyrinth helped connect the community during a time when people were separated. They also report the pop-up project helped demonstrate to local government leaders the importance of community green space. In the future, Curry Ford West hopes to install more pop-up parks as part of its advocacy for more public spaces in Orlando.
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Surry, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Older residents without internet access were missing vital town notices after the Post Office banned postings. To restore communication, the group built a kiosk beside the Post Office with three corkboard panels for official notices and social events, plus vibrant artwork to draw attention. Plans include a Little Free Library and seasonal plantings. The kiosk now serves as a central hub for information, helping older adults stay connected. Residents praised the improvement, and volunteers will maintain it year-round.
Glen Ullin, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Outdoor options for older adults were scarce in Glen Ullin, leaving few chances for social connection. That changed when two permanent concrete cornhole games were installed-one at a playground and another downtown-giving residents a simple, fun way to stay active. Volunteers hosted instructional events, and soon people of all ages were stopping by to play. "These games are so awesome, people stop over while we are playing and want to join the fun," said one resident. The project turned idle spaces into lively gathering spots, fostering engagement and movement for everyone.
Jersey City, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To give residents at Marion Gardens the opportunity to gather, project organizers beautified a concrete area onsite. Residents of the public housing complex came together to plant trees, shrubs and flowers in an area of the property prone to flooding, with the new foliage acting as green infrastructure to absorb rainwater. To ensure care of the new trees long-term, project organizers also created a tree maintenance manual with pruning techniques and other tips. Since the planting, organizers have worked to plan a mural at the site.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Orlando, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: To make accessory dwelling units easier to understand and use, Orlando launched an education campaign focused on aging in place. The city created bilingual brochures, enhanced its website and hosted six community sessions plus a major event on home safety. Nearly 400 people attended, and materials remain available online and at community centers. The effort clarified permitting and financing options, helping families explore ADUs as a housing solution. As one participant noted, "Families need clear guidance on what makes an ADU and why it matters."
Orlando, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public spaces improvements to increase high-speed internet availability
Description: In the neighborhoods surrounding Prince Hall Park and Willows Park, a large percentage of residents lack reliable access to broadband internet. To help meet this need, the City of Orlando installed wheelchair accessible, solar powered tables and shade structures -- each outfitted with charging stations and Wi-Fi hotspots -- at both neighborhood parks. Rated for 175 mile-per-hour winds, the tables can sustain hurricane-strength gusts, allowing residents to use them to charge phones, call loved ones or access emergency information during disaster scenarios. Local artists painted the concrete pads that anchor the two tables to depict positive images representing the community.
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