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Family Service Rochester (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
After the City of Rochester cut its parks and recreation budget during the COVID-19 pandemic, many small parks in Rochester fell into disrepair. To address this, Family Service Rochester improved a pocket park in the City's Friendship Park neighborhood, a diverse, low-income area of the city. This project added new trees, benches and a multilingual information kiosk. A volunteer team dug holes, planted, watered and staked trees. Others chipped in to keep the park free of litter. Organizers say the project demonstrated that residents will invest their time to improve their neighborhood. After the project's completion, volunteers from the initiative were inspired to improve other parks in the area.
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Columbia, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: As part of efforts to activate space and increase the vitality of Columbia's downtown, this project created the city's first parklet. Parklets transform on-street parking spaces into public gathering spaces. Originally intended to be temporary, Columbia's miniature park consists of a ground-level, fenced-in deck featuring an art installation, a cafe table and chairs and new planters. While several nearby restaurants lack outdoor seating space, the parklet remedied this, giving visitors a space to eat and socialize. To gather public feedback about the new space, city staff displayed a QR code onsite, which linked to an online survey. Spurred by the success of this project, organizers made plans to add more parklets downtown. City staff have also looked into creating a parklet ordinance, which would allow local businesses to create similar spaces in the future.
West Fargo, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: As part of efforts to attract visitors to its downtown, the City of West Fargo hoped to turn its POW/MIA Plaza on Sheyenne Street into a gathering space. To do this, the City purchased game tables for a previously underused portion of the plaza. "This project helped demonstratethe importance of creating opportunities for fun and safe activities in the city's new and improved downtown area," City Planner Malachi Petersen said. "It is our hope that this project will lead to future projects which encourage walkability and active lifestyles in our community." Today the plaza hosts community events, including a farmers market. Project organizers hope to replicate the games in other parts of West Fargo in the future.
Macon, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Before 24/7 television, air-conditioning and smartphones, sitting outside and talking over a game of chess or checkers was a popular pastime. To give residents of all ages in South Macon a place to gather, South Macon Art Revitalization Technology purchased outdoor checkerboard tables and two oversized Connect Four games. A crew of neighborhood residents serve as volunteer game instructors onsite. "Chess, checkers and Connect Four are games that require critical thinking, patience and skill," SMART secretary Frankie Lewis said, noting that many older people in the neighborhood are accomplished chess and checkers players. "We want to make sure their skills don't get lost due to the lack of activity, and we want the elders in our community to share their knowledge with people here of all ages, but especially our youth."
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Rochester, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Sidewalks in one Rochester neighborhood lacked safe, walkable routes, putting pedestrians, especially older adults, at risk. To address this, the organization led 12 walk audits covering dozens of blocks, drawing a large group to identify hazards and assets. The effort demonstrated how audits could shape city planning and was incorporated into the sidewalk improvement process. It also sparked interest in expanding audits to other neighborhoods and transit projects, showing strong community engagement in creating safer, age-friendly streets.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Lake City, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: Lake City, home to one of Minnesota's oldest populations, faced a shortage of affordable housing and options for aging in place. Although ADUs were allowed, few residents pursued them due to lack of awareness and design access. The Port Authority launched an education campaign with informational sessions, brochures and a dedicated webpage. They partnered with housing advocates to provide free pre-reviewed ADU designs, including above-garage options. Interest surged, with residents contacting city planners and realtors seeking guidance.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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