Silver City, NM

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: To attract visitors to the downtown area, this project established a game area and installed large photos depicting historic flooding in the town.

Ashland, WI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: A survey showed residents in Ashland wanted more outdoor seating in the city's downtown. As part of larger efforts to revitalize the commercial district the City worked with Ashland Main Street to install decorative benches. The City engaged teams of artists -- including college students and staff from the local food co-op -- to design artwork for the seating. Then, with the help of volunteers, project organizers then installed one bench on every block of Ashland's nine-block commercial area. Each depicts imagery related to the community's identity, including scenes from local history or ecology. Paying homage to nearby Lake Superior, several benches have a water theme. Project organizers say Ashland is known as the mural capital of Wisconsin, and the benches work with other public art installations to draw people to visit downtown.

Athens, AL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project will provide age-friendly seating in the gathering area at the local farmers market, so that older patrons can relax, socialize and enjoy live musical performances.