Mobile, AL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Organizers with Via Health, Fitness and Enrichment Center envisioned a community green space where Mobile residents of all ages can interact. This project added two gazebos to the space, providing visitors with shade. Project organizers also installed a bike rack and dog watering station onsite and volunteers constructed a raised garden bed for growing flowers, herbs and vegetables. Since the transformation, Midtown Meets has become a meetup spot for local walking and biking clubs, a space for college students to take study breaks and a place for older adults to socialize. In addition, a new volunteer group, called Midtown Neighbors, continues to meet to work in the community garden beds.

Macon-Bibb, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project will transform a vacant lot near public transit into Spirit of Macon Park, a safe, attractive, multi-purpose green space. The park will offer wellness programs and activities.

Sisseton, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: To encourage residents to walk and increase the vibrancy of Sisseton's downtown, The Sisseton Arts Council created a new community gathering spot, which they dubbed the Midway Green Space. The site features a sculpture of a reflective, eight-point star, designed to represent the area's native Dakota and Scandinavian immigrant heritage. To make the Green Space inviting to visitors, volunteers installed granite benches and seeded native grasses. Since these improvements, project organizers secured funding for a second sculpture for the site, created by a local Native artist.