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Downtown Action Team with Minnesota Main Street (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Downtown Action Team partnered with Minnesota Main Street to encourage residents of all ages to come downtown, walk down main street and learn about local history. To encourage socializing, they rearranged underutilized benches downtown, grouping some with new outdoor tables to create places for residents to sit and linger. Organizers installed plaques featuring photos and a brief narrative on the benches. Additionally, they adorned tabled with imagery and text explaining New Ulm's history.
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Loiza, PR
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Project Category: Public space activation
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Project Category: Public space activation
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Everett, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will create an ADA accessible entry into Walter E. Hall Park, enhancing access for all residents. It will open a closed utility corridor and build a paved pathway, connecting the park to nearby neighborhoods.
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Sleepy Eye, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The project will create walkable access and rest areas connecting the senior center, museum, Chief Sleepy Eye Monument, Veterans Park, and local shops. It will include benches, trash receptacles, flowerpots, and a mural.
Saint Peter, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A long-vacant downtown lot in Saint Peter was transformed into a vibrant plaza after decades of inactivity. Volunteers painted a 70-by-70-foot mural, built benches, picnic tables and added lighting and signage to create a welcoming space for gatherings. Events such as live music, art fairs and literary readings introduced residents to placemaking and sparked conversations about revitalization. "Watching people look around with fresh eyes... was magic," said an organizer, noting the plaza has become the only true downtown gathering spot and a catalyst for future projects.
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