Omaha, NE

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Organizers with Spark thought an unused parking lot at the head of the North Omaha Trail had potential to be something more. So they set out to turn the site into a seed archive -- a building designed to store seeds for growing vegetables, flowers and other plants. Local artists decorated the new building and project organizers installed seating for the space. The seed archive supports the nearby Healthy Roots community garden, which provides fresh produce to local families. Additionally, the archive represents a win for biodiversity, since many of the seeds stored there will grow into plants native to Nebraska, including pollinator-friendly species.

Lemmon, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: A new, accessible parklet will create a gathering space outside the Palace Theater that is welcoming to older adult patrons and people with disabilities. Amenities -- including a new ramp and bench seating -- will allow the theater to host outdoor arts programming.

Wilton, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The project will create a shaded, accessible gazebo situated at a location where older residents can observe wildlife and catalog what they see for a natural resources inventory.