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East Bay Community Action Program (2025) Print
2025 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Older adults identified limited access to affordable, healthy food as an ongoing challenge, driven by transportation barriers and high rates of nutrition-related chronic illness. East Bay Community Action Program responded by creating an accessible community garden at the local Senior Center, where older adults helped shape what was grown and how the space was used. The project paired gardening with hands-on cooking demonstrations and a shared meal that used garden produce and prepared dishes. One participant wrote that they had started eating better and adding more vegetables to their diet. The garden also strengthened ties with schools and youth programs, supporting continued intergenerational involvement and establishing a lasting space for food access, learning and social connection.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Bristol, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Older adults in Bristol faced isolation and lacked accessible outdoor spaces for social interaction and wellness activities. The board created a vibrant outdoor area with ADA-compliant benches, raised garden beds and historical mural panels with QR codes. In addition, a digital historical repository and a veterans memorial were created, and LED lighting and signage were added to make the space safe and welcoming. The project fostered community pride and provided a gathering place for older adults and residents of all ages. It sparked interest in preserving local history and inspired plans for additional improvements, serving as a model for other rural towns.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Sheridan, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Veterans at the Sheridan VA struggled to access a therapeutic garden because uneven terrain and heat made gardening unsafe for those with mobility challenges. The project installed more than 500 feet of ADA-compliant concrete paths, raised beds at accessible heights and a retractable shade system. Volunteers and VA staff also hosted workshops and a garden symposium to engage veterans. These upgrades created a fully accessible space that supports physical activity, mental health and food security, ensuring older veterans can garden safely for years to come. One participant, who is a veteran, said that he didn't realize how much he would love gardening, and now has a passion for it.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Ele'ele, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: An accessible community garden will be created with raised beds, shaded seating and wide pathways. The space will allow residents to garden safely and spend time together outdoors.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
East Providence, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The City of East Providence set out to support intergenerational activities in a dense residential neighborhood. To achieve this, they made improvements to a park frequented by residents of all ages. The City installed benches, ADA-accessible picnic tables and game tables in Central Avenue Park. The improvements allow grandparents to sit and watch their grandchildren play in the park's splash pad, older adults to engage youth in a game of checkers or chess and families to enjoy a picnic together. Organizers say the project helped East Providence realize the final elements of their recently completed parks master plan.
Providence, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: To combat isolation and bridge the digital divide, Mount Hope Community Center created a modern computer lab and offered hands-on classes for older adults. Participants learned essential skills like sending emails, navigating the internet and spotting scams, supported by volunteers and a dedicated instructor. The lab is now a permanent resource, and future workshops will expand to video calls and social media. One participant captured the impact: "What a great feat!" after emailing her child for the first time.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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