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Bennington, VT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: After the Town of Bennington removed an out-of-date play structure, Stark Street Park was essentially an empty field. To draw residents of all ages back to the Park, the Town's Office of Community Development devised a plan to add a natural playground, bicycle pump track and a quarter-mile walking path. This project added an accessible path, which loops around the playground. In addition, the Town planted a pollinator garden with perennial plants attractive to butterflies and bees, installed two wooden benches and erected a welcome sign at the park entrance. Since these improvements, the nearby hospital obtained land and trails, which connect to Stark Street Park. The town has also added a mountain bike course onsite.

Auburn, KS

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: This project will replace a recently demolished gazebo -- which was the focal point of a community park -- with a new, ADA-accessible one.

Parowan, UT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: This project will provide shaded bleachers at a city park to create a welcoming recreational space for older adults. Park improvements also include six new pickleball courts.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Green River, UT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing

Description: Epicenter conducted outreach to older residents about their housing needs, with the goal informing the design of its Frontier House prototype. Costing 36,000, Epicanter envisions the small home as an affordable alternative to mobile homes, where many rural residents live. The 708-square-foot home -- scaled to the minimum house size allowed by City code -- prioritizes accessibility. Designed to be low maintenance, the house is meant to enable residents to age in place in their community. Epicenter plans to monitor the structure for three years to track its utility usage and durability. The nonprofit also uses the prototype as a teaching tool within the community. The nonprofit works to close the housing affordability gap for low-to-moderate income households in rural Utah through home repair and new housing construction.

Green River, UT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: As Epicenter worked to complete its Canal Commons affordable housing development, organizers set out to create an accessible greenspace for future residents. Located in the desert city of Green River, the pocket neighborhood lacks access to walking trails, sidewalks and parks. To address this, Epicenter installed concrete walkways. To allow residents to gather outdoors at night -- and avoid the hot, desert sun -- organizers installed LED lighting along the path. Wayfinding signage helps residents navigate the path, as well as the larger neighborhood. The space also features a picnic table, ADA-compliant benches and raised garden beds. Epicenter prioritized universal design elements for the greenspace to ensure people can age in place at Canal Commons.

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Suite 320
Midvale (Salt Lake City), UT 84047
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