Farmington, NM

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: Downtown Farmington's alleys lacked safe inviting spaces for cultural engagement, limiting walkability and social connection. The council converted an alley into a pocket park with walking pavers and murals, including a Navajo Code Talker portrait and cultural symbols. Older adults volunteered as guides and storytellers during art walks, sharing local history. The space now hosts jazz nights, art classes and receptions, creating a lasting venue for connection.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Lakewood, CO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: Older adults who walk the Alameda Corridor to reach shops and health care often lacked safe places to pause, making trips exhausting and limiting independence. Alameda Connects installed a concrete pad with a bench and trash bin at a key resting point. It also added colorful ground murals at three sites, including a transit stop and Easterseals Colorado, to make the spaces feel safer and more welcoming. The project united older adults and students in painting days that sparked friendships and inspired neighborhood cleanups and business interest in murals. One teen said, "Thank you for letting me volunteer. This project gave me purpose."

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Lake City, SC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: The City of Lake City addressed a lack of safe, accessible places for residents to walk and exercise downtown, a gap that limited no-cost options for physical activity for older adults. Damaged sidewalks and unclear routes discouraged regular outdoor movement and made walking less comfortable. The city repaired sidewalks and created a clearly defined downtown walking trail, supported by trailhead signage and sidewalk decals developed with local partners. Health and recreation organizations helped connect the trail to programs that encourage routine use, including walking as part of personal wellness plans. Older adults now have a safer, more inviting route for daily walking close to other community resources. The trail is positioned as a lasting asset that supports ongoing health efforts and provides a foundation for future improvements.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.