AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
Destination Downtown South Boston Inc. (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
This project will activate a dilapidated alley connecting South Boston's Main Street to the local farmers market. Improvements include new benches and landscaping, as well as a public art installation depicting the town's skyline.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Schenectady, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project enlivened an empty lot downtown with murals, ADA-compliant benches, lighting and tables featuring game boards.
Omaha, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Organizers with Spark thought an unused parking lot at the head of the North Omaha Trail had potential to be something more. So they set out to turn the site into a seed archive -- a building designed to store seeds for growing vegetables, flowers and other plants. Local artists decorated the new building and project organizers installed seating for the space. The seed archive supports the nearby Healthy Roots community garden, which provides fresh produce to local families. Additionally, the archive represents a win for biodiversity, since many of the seeds stored there will grow into plants native to Nebraska, including pollinator-friendly species.
Ashton, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The grant will fund renovations to the organization's multipurpose center, including creation of walking trails and expansion of the community garden.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Boydton, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: This project will conduct walk audits along the Tobacco Heritage Trail branch in Boydton, with the goal of finding ways to increase safety so more people can enjoy it.
Henderson, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: The Flint Hill Kittrell Vance Community Development Corporation hoped to help foster economic development in Henderson's Flint Hill neighborhood, a low-income community. To create a sense of place there, the CDC created the Henderson Art Walk. First, volunteers worked to install murals and crosswalk art reflecting the area's history and culture. Local youth also took part in an oral history project, recording stories from their elders. A local website hosts an archive of the stories, along with photos of local public art installations. Then the CDC launched its walking tour, which highlights local Black history and culture. The walk leads visitors past local galleries and museums, as well as murals and crosswalk art. One mural honors Ben E. King, a Henderson native best known for writing and performing the song Stand by Me. The success of this placemaking project has inspired similar efforts in nearby communities and has spurred the CDC to create more public art.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Virginia State Office
901 E Byrd Street
Suite 1005
Richmond, VA 23219
United States