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Edward Bell Community Foundation (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
The project will create a rural community garden which will grow produce to improve the diets of older residents, while also providing them with a safe place to get exercise by walking.
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Fort Pierre, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: To provide residents the chance to grow fresh produce, the City of Fort Pierre began construction of its community garden in 2018. To kick off the project, organizers cleared the lot and constructed 24 raised beds, each including their own water spigot. The City also planted fruit trees at the site. As work continued in 2019, the City erected a fence around the gardens, added wood chips to create mud-free walkways between plots and installed picnic tables. That year all beds in the garden were rented. In 2020, the City added an accessible picnic table with an umbrella. Two local restaurants use the garden to raise produce for their menus and about 75 percent of gardeners renting plots are 60 or older. Project organizers report the success of the garden inspired other efforts to encourage healthy living in Fort Pierre, including improvements to the local trail system, a mural downtown and new lighting on a pedestrian bridge.
Windsor Locks, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project will transform an underutilized alley into a downtown community gardening and socializing space that includes garden beds and outdoor seating.
Woodbury, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project will make improvements to a community garden, allowing older adults and people with disabilities to use the space. Enhancements will include ADA-compliant raised beds, signage and new gardening tools.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Opelika, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project installed an outdoor game station in an underutilized public space, so residents and visitors could have fun while spending time downtown.
Wetumpka, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Until Main Street Wetumpka saw the opportunity to create an outdoor community space, the dim alley connecting Company and Hill Streets in downtown Wetumpka served largely as a place to park cars. The local nonprofit worked to transform the alley into a sustainable, wheelchair accessible outdoor gathering space featuring greenery, moveable furniture and a live performance space. After a devastating tornado in early 2019, the Alleyway Project had to take a pause. But the project got back on track, with Main Street Wetumpka completing its work before other damage in the area was restored. Because of this, the alley activation became an inspiration for a wounded town. Now it's a lively spot for weekly events and a place for local workers to eat lunch outside. A project organizer said she hopes the alley's mural featuring historic Wetumpka figures helps connect young residents to their history inspires them to reach for the stars.
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