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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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Lemmon, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Older adults in Lemmon lacked accessible spaces to rest or gather, and the Palace Theater offered no easy entry for those with mobility challenges. To address this, the arts council installed a movable parklet with seating and a ramp, creating a welcoming spot for walkers and hosting monthly arts events like wool-spinning workshops and live music during the town celebration. The project proved the value of public gathering spaces, sparking plans for permanent bump-outs and green space.
Newark, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will install outdoor speakers in the Food Bank of Delaware's public gardens in Milford and Newark. The sound system will create a peaceful and connected community space for all visitors, especially older adults.
England, AR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Ward 3 in England faced decades of neglect, leaving older adults without safe spaces for connection or activity. The Serenity Garden project transformed a vacant lot into a vibrant hub, adding a farm stand, foot-operated wash station, bike rack with a repair station, shade structures and murals. Accessible paths and fitness signage made gardening and exercise achievable for residents age 50-plus. These upgrades fostered pride and inclusion. Neighbors in wheelchairs joined concerts and picked fresh produce, while murals boosted visibility and hope for renewal. As one resident noted, the improvements made summer gatherings more enjoyable and strengthened community ties.
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.
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.
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