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The FAF (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
A vacant parking lot in downtown Woodbury offered no safe or inviting space for residents to gather. The FAF transformed it into LOT 323, a pop-up park with seating, shade, lighting and ADA-accessible features. The space hosted concerts, wellness events and live mural painting, drawing thousands and boosting volunteer engagement among older adults. "These events made me want to get involved," said one resident. The city has committed to continuing LOT 323 while plans for redevelopment move forward.
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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See More Projects Like This One
Dennis, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Dennis Center for Active Living added an accessible outdoor patio to address the lack of space for social activities, a need heightened by pandemic isolation. The project built a 20x20 concrete platform with a wheelchair-accessible ramp, installed benches and placed six raised garden beds. Volunteers helped assemble furniture and plant flowers. The patio now hosts picnics, gardening and intergenerational events. "The DCAL Garden Patio is icing on the cake," said the project director, noting it fulfills a long-held vision for an inviting, inclusive gathering place.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Wilmington, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A new wetland park in Wilmington lacked seating, shade and signage, limiting its appeal for residents, including older adults. The project added five benches, nine shade trees and interpretive panels explaining the park's ecology and flood benefits. Community programs engaged more than 200 residents through nature walks and volunteer tree planting. "AARP added value to the park and gives opportunities for community to pause and reflect," said a project manager. These improvements make the park more inviting and encourage healthy outdoor activity and social connection.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Victoria Park's historic shopping plaza lacked shaded outdoor spaces and struggled after the pandemic, limiting mobility and social engagement. The project installed a colorful shade structure called "Stitch" and hosted cultural events to draw residents and visitors. These gatherings boosted foot traffic, supported local businesses and connected social services with unhoused individuals. One outreach leader said the effort helped move people into housing and "created proactive programs to decrease incidents."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Camden, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A vacant lot on North Camden's waterfront was unappealing and attracted illegal dumping. The Camden Community Partnership decided to give the lot new life by turning it into a gathering space for residents of all ages. As part of larger efforts to activate the space, the Partnership commissioned a local artist to create a mural onsite. The artist asked older adults questions about their community and used their responses to inform the mural's design, which volunteers helped paint onto a nearby building. Since its completion, project organizers say the mural has served as a model for other local public art projects, with three additional murals in the works. The new greenspace has also tied into other community building work, including development of trail along the Delaware and Cooper Rivers.
Camden, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Residents faced dangerous conditions near the new waterfront park, where missing crosswalks and poor bike lane design made access unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists, including older adults. Camden Community Partnership restriped State Street and Harrison Avenue, installed over 300 bike delineators, curb ramps and flashing bike signs, and added a bus stop bench. These changes slowed traffic and improved visibility while prompting plans for permanent upgrades. As one parent noted, "It will definitely help my kids get to the new 60-acre park to ride the trails."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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