Warrensburg, MO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: To activate an alley in Warrensburg's downtown, this project installed seating, lighting, planters and public art in the space. Local artists created a mural and painted an outdoor staircase that connects the alley to a nearby parking lot. Additionally, the local United Way worked with local elementary students to create decorative ceramic tiles, which they attached to the alley's planters. Project organizers hope to continue partnering with local schools to create art for the community. They also plan to hold events in the alley.

Pendleton, IN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: An unused downtown lot offered little for community life, leaving older adults without a welcoming outdoor space. The Foundation transformed it into a pocket park with seating, shade and landscaping, then hosted 30 conversation events pairing older adults with students. Festive activities like Letters to Santa and a ribbon-tying ceremony drew attention to the space. Residents now gather there for informal meetups and envision more amenities, making the park a hub for connection and intergenerational engagement.

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.