AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
Fells Point Main Street Inc. with The Society for the Preservation of Fells Point and Federal Hill (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Sundays in the Street was originally a proposal to close two busy streets to vehicle traffic -- for only two Sundays each month. But after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Baltimore, the car-free experiment became permanent. Project organizers set out bollards and large planters to block off two streets in the Fells Point neighborhood, turning the area into an open-air plaza. This created space for children to play, older adults to stroll and residents to gather safely. The site hosted outdoor dining, kids' activities and live music. Already underway in the spring of 2020, the initiative gave Baltimore a jump start and provided a model for other communities dealing with COVID-19 shutdowns.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Duluth, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: This project engaged teams of participants to design solutions that will make the city more age-friendly, with a focus on areas such as housing, transportation and more.
Buffalo, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: The Dorothy J. Collier Community Center serves residents of all ages, providing free and low-cost meals, exercise classes, social events and more. Organizers with the center hoped to offer residents another option: monthly jazz events. Participants enjoyed performances by local school groups and jazz musicians, received music lessons and enjoyed food from different cultures. Additionally, they had the opportunity to meet and share their needs with local elected leaders, who attended each of the five Jazz Nights. The events allowed the center promote efforts to beautify the community center. Following, project organizers completed an indoor mural in the space. In addition to increasing civic and social engagement, organizers said the Jazz Nights helped the community heal from a traumatic event -- the monthly gatherings kicked off in the wake of a mass shooting in Buffalo and gave attendees space to experience joy and comfort each other.
Lexington, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: Kentucky has one of the highest rates of grandparents raising grandchildren, yet resources for older caregivers are scarce. To address this, PCAK partnered with 10 Cooperative Extension Offices to host Grandparents Day events featuring activities like planting trees and building mini library boxes. Each event provided educational materials, including a new guide called "Parenting and Caregiving Over 50". The gatherings strengthened intergenerational bonds and created lasting improvements such as library boxes and landscaping. "Overhearing the conversations between the grandparents and the grandchildren was so positive... connections can be made in the simplest things," one organizer said.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities
Description: As part of a smart cities initiative, the Office of Information and Technology developed an online tool to allow residents and businesses to access city services, such as applying for government services and paying taxes. Project organizers hope the tool will help city residents have an efficient experience when they engage with local government functions.
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Many intersections in the Johnson Square neighborhood were unsafe for pedestrians, and especially for children walking to school. The Re-Build Johnson Square Neighborhood Organization created the Bee Safe program, a crosswalk art project. Local teenagers and other residents worked together to create artistic crosswalks, meant to slow down traffic by catching driver's attention. Volunteers worked to paint floral designs onto the pavement. Other improvements -- including flexible delineators and painted bump-outs -- separate pedestrians from street traffic and shorten the distance needed to walk across the street. Additionally, project organizers added a new crosswalk with accessible ramps at the main crossing point to and from the local elementary school.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Maryland State Office
200 St. Paul Place
Suite 2510
Baltimore, MD 21202
United States