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Cheyenne, WY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The Senior Center will create accessible outdoor patios with seating and raised gardens at its entrances. These areas will provide older adults with a place to wait, socialize and enjoy fresh air between daily activities.

Port Orford, OR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: To revitalize Port Orford's downtown and make it more walkable, the City installed benches with built-in planters along Main Street. Sites chosen for the new benches included the local food co-op, a quilt shop and a Norwegian restaurant. A construction crew from a nearby correctional facility built four bench-planter combos. High school students made plaques to recognize the inmates for their work and AARP for funding the building supplies. After installation, the local arts council set up the community's traditional holiday crab-pot tree next to one of the benches and added festive decorations to its planter. Project organizers report downtown property owners are thrilled with the improvements and the City plans to continue adding seating to Main Street.

McGregor, MN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Benches, picnic tables and shaded information kiosks will be added to complete the community garden and gathering space. The improvements will provide older adults with comfortable places to rest, learn and connect during daily use and at local events.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Brattleboro, VT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places

Description: After catastrophic flooding exposed gaps in river access and safety, Brattleboro residents-many age 50-plus-joined the Face the River initiative to shape a new riverside park and learn floodplain science. The project delivered bird walks, river ecology workshops and mindfulness sessions, along with tours of restoration sites that engaged over 100 participants. Their insights are guiding permanent projects with ADA trails and amenities, underscoring the need for trails near downtown. The effort sparked lasting momentum for inclusive recreation and resilience planning.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Putney, VT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Transportation Other

Description: The project will use walk audit findings to identify pedestrian safety improvements, including crosswalk testing, benches, signage and traffic calming. The effort will improve walkability in a busy downtown area for residents of all ages.

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AARP Vermont State Office

199 Main Street
Suite 225
Burlington, VT 05401
United States

Phone: 866-227-7451
Fax: 802-651-9805
Email: [email protected]