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Eden Gardens Block Club (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
To give older adults a space where they can interact with local children, Eden Gardens Block Club converted two vacant lots into an intergenerational playground. Ahead of the project, the Edens Garden surveyed residents about their preferences, with 80 percent of respondents asking for exercise equipment for older adults. Volunteers then worked to clear the site and install playground apparatuses, including swings, a see-saw bouncer and a cardio walker. Organizers say the space is now a source of community pride for the community.
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Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project turned vacant lots into healing spaces by mowing grass, removing debris and hosting yoga sessions, health workshops and more.
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Many residents of Houston's Gulfton neighborhood live in apartment buildings, which lack outdoor space. Organizers with My Connect Community set out to give these residents a place to gather. They created a placemaking tool kit tailored to multifamily property owners. The kit includes portable carts adorned with laser-cut designs meant to represent Gulfton's diversity. Each cart also features a shade umbrella and a chalkboard. Additionally, the kits include outdoor rugs, bistro lighting and seating. Then My Connect Community hosted a series of pop-up events on side streets and in on-street parking spaces. The temporary activations gave Gulfton residents a chance to socialize with one another and allowed organizers to share information about community resources, such as public transit service and library programming. In the future, My Connect Community hopes to ensure community events are culturally informed and engage volunteers who speak residents' languages.
Monroeville, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project created Story Trail panels to share books along a path leading from the downtown square to Monroe County Public Library.
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Detroit, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: To welcome older adults and people with mobility challenges, this project installed an ADA-compliant boardwalk and deck near Mission Point, a nursing and rehabilitation facility. In addition to creating a flat walking surface, volunteers installed seating to give visitors a place to rest. The improvements are part of the larger Circle Forest project, an effort to clean up and restore native wildlife to twelve vacant lots in Detroit.
Detroit, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Trails
Description: This project will create a trail connecting local parks, schools, community centers and commercial areas. The multiuse trail will serve pedestrians and bikers of all ages and abilities, with features including accessible pathways, rest areas and signage.
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