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Emmanuel Brinklow Seventh Day Adventist (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Older adults in Montgomery County faced health disparities and food insecurity, with few accessible spaces for gardening and exercise. The organization added 12 raised garden beds and seating areas to its community garden, creating a space where participants grow fresh produce and connect. The garden promotes healthy eating and social ties, reducing isolation. One 97-year-old participant, unable to garden for two years due to back and knee problems, said she is "so happy and anxiously awaiting for the season to start."
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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Chelsea, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Chelsea lacked spaces that reflect its Latinx culture, leaving older adults without a welcoming place to gather while accessing essential services. La Colaborativa addressed this by creating La Plazita, an outdoor pavilion connected to the new Survival Center, featuring covered tables, art and music. Completed in late 2023, the plaza now hosts cultural celebrations and offers respite from daily challenges. It has become a multi-generational hub that restores a sense of identity and is expected to inspire similar spaces in other communities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Grand Forks, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: As part of its mission to connect the community, the Grand Forks Public Library created an intergenerational music playground on its grounds. A group of older adult volunteers helped select all-weather musical instruments and installed them on a concrete slab. Since the installation, the project has brought adults and children together, demonstrating the value of activating underused public spaces. Additionally, the playground has strengthened the library's relationship with a nearby senior housing community. Project organizers say the musical instruments offer psychological and health benefits for older adults, such as reduced stress, improved mood and greater cognitive skills.
Berea, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Greenville County's Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department created a backyard space to the Berea Community Center. A new walking path loop connects the center to new amenities, with include swinging benches, horseshoe pits and a community garden space. The site also features improved landscaping. Project organizers constructed beds for the gardens at a variety of heights -- including three wheelchair-accessible pull-up beds -- to accommodate visitors of different ability levels.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Silver Spring, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The first season of a new community garden revealed gaps in accessibility and education for older adults and neighbors. IMPACT Silver Spring responded by offering technical assistance and hosting gardening workshops, while volunteers widened an informal path to improve access. Partnerships with local agencies strengthened the effort, creating a space for learning and connection. Plans now include drip irrigation, a food forest and produce donations, with a goal to secure funding for permanent walkways and eventually hand stewardship to the community.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Genesis residents lacked a safe, inviting outdoor space, leaving older adults and families isolated. The project installed 20 resident-painted mural panels, solar lights and a welcome sign, and redesigned the patio with movable seating for performances. A fall celebration with food and music marked the transformation. "The murals look so lovely, and the lighting makes this area feel more inviting," said one resident, noting how the space now fosters pride and connection across generations.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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