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District 6 Planning Council (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
St. Paul's North End, originally settled around 1850, once was a magnet for European immigrants who worked for the railroads. In the late 1900s the neighborhood became a haven for migrants from Laos, Somalia and Burma, making it one of the most diverse places in Minnesota. The District 6 Planning Council, a local community organization that later changed its name to the North End Neighborhood Association, wanted a way to convey multilingual community and events information to residents who don't use the internet. The organization purchased five message boards and install them at two community gardens, at an outdoor seating area by an ice cream shop and in other locations.
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See More Projects Like This One
Honolulu, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: The Age-Friendly Honolulu initiative launched Kind2Kupuna, a public awareness campaign to help shops, restaurants, health care providers and other public-facing businesses better serve older adults. While preparing the campaign, Age-Friendly Honolulu found the most common complaints kupuna had about shopping were difficulties reaching items on shelves, poor customer service and employees failing to smile or not making eye contact. To address these issues, they created a poster featuring ten culturally appropriate tips, including start with aloha, be mindful of memory loss, step into their shoes and make it readable. "A workforce that is more aware and equipped to accommodate physical and cognitive changes with age will be better able to support older adults in many ways, both big and small," Hawaii Pacific University Vice President Sam Moku said.
Glasgow, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: City leaders moved forward on an outdoor fitness court to address limited, affordable options for physical activity among older adults who lacked easy access to indoor facilities or transportation. The project resulted in a free, open-access fitness court installed in a central park near housing, downtown services and the local hospital, making it easy to use at any time. The court offers simple strength and movement equipment designed to support everyday fitness without fees or memberships. Early use shows the space drawing older adults who want to stay active outdoors and connect with others. One resident story described a 99-year-old man excited that the new court would help keep the community moving. The project expanded opportunities for regular exercise and set the stage for volunteer-led fitness programs that can help older adults build routines and social ties over time.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Tupper Lake, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: The library will transform its community room into a safer, more accessible, and inviting space for residents aged 50-plus through new flooring, furnishings, and creative enhancements that support programs, gathering, and social connection.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Saint Paul, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: After a survey of North End residents revealed a need for additional seating in the Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary, the District 6 Planning Council installed benches along the site's accessible walkways. A local artist designed each bench to depict colorful animals, including a blue and orange turtle, a bright orange otter, a red rabbit and a yellow and green frog. Project organizers say they hope to give visitors a place to rest, enjoy the outdoors and make social connections.
St. Paul, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Reconnecting Communities
Description: The construction of I-94 shattered St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood, displacing families and erasing community life. To preserve this history and amplify older residents' voices, the project interviewed 13 older adults and collected photos to create a virtual reality experience showing Rondo before, during and after freeway construction. Two VR exhibitions engaged residents and youth, fostering dialogue and promoting healing. These immersive stories now serve as a permanent archive, informing redevelopment discussions and promoting more inclusive urban planning for years to come.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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