Forman, ND

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The City of Forman transformed an empty lot into a pleasant gathering space, designed especially for older adults. The space is located on the city's Main Street, across from a senior center and next to the county health office. To activate the lot, the City installed paving stones and set up a two-person table with chairs. They also added planters, solar lights, a trash can, a metal bench and an arbor at the entrance. Flowers, shrubs and a community garden with six raised beds followed. As the only outdoor area on Forman's Main Street with seating, the site gave people a safe place to gather during the COVID-19 pandemic. With new businesses opening across the street, the City expects to see more pedestrian traffic in the neighborhood.

Orange County, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: 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.

Castleton-on-Hudson, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The Village of Castleton-on-Hudson regularly hosts a Repair Cafe event, where volunteers repaired any item brought to them, if possible. One problem: the event takes place on the second floor of a Village Hall, which has no elevator. This posed an accessibility issue -- locals often complained about climbing the building's difficult staircase. To solve this, the Village moved its Repair Cafe to Noyes Engine House. They also worked to activate a vacant lot next door, installing a community bulletin board, benches and planters onsite. The improvements support wider efforts to revitalize the village's downtown, with the goal of drawing more people to the central business district.