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Salem, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Older adults and residents with mobility challenges in Salem lacked inclusive outdoor spaces for gardening and social engagement. The project created an accessible garden with ADA-compliant benches, raised beds and pathways, and hosted a groundbreaking event to introduce multigenerational gardening. The space now supports outdoor classes and community gatherings that alleviate isolation and foster connections. "As I've seen the garden space since the groundbreaking event, it looks more like a community gathering space than the area did prior to the updates," said a participant.
Silver City, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A dead-end section of Yankie Street was transformed into an engaging, interactive, pedestrian connection between their main downtown street, Bullard, and the Big Ditch Park. The project turned it into an interactive space with historic flood panels, murals and checkerboard designs, plus signage inviting free games like checkers and washers. Local artists infused cultural heritage into the artwork, creating a vibrant link between downtown and Big Ditch Park. "Our families have lived in Grant County since 1900. Our memories of them live on through our creations. We are beyond proud to have been a part of this project." one artist said, underscoring the personal stories woven into the transformation.
Buffalo, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Hundreds of veterans' graves in Johnson County lacked markers, leaving families without visible recognition of service. Volunteers from the American Legion and VFW installed more than 375 durable metal markers across three cemeteries, assembling and placing them over summer and fall. The markers provide lasting tribute, ensuring families can honor veterans for decades. Volunteers described the work as extremely meaningful, recalling names and memories while walking the grounds. The group plans to continue adding markers as needed.
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Ossipee, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Emergency preparedness skills
Description: Frequent severe storms left older adults in remote homes vulnerable during evacuations or prolonged isolation. To boost preparedness, the group distributed 215 rolling backpacks stocked with essentials like weather radios, flashlights and water purification tablets at town events. It also provided checklists and registry sign-ups for residents with special needs. Participants said the effort made them feel empowered to plan ahead, and requests for similar programs have come from other communities as organizers work to expand the initiative.
North Conway, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: To help homeowners with extra space in their homes find potential tenants, the Gibson Center created a website. The site features information about homesharing, as well as the option for people looking for rooms to rent to match with those with space to share. Modeled after successful homesharing initiatives in other states, the new homesharing service provides reference screenings and background checks, as well as a guide through New Hampshire's landlord-tenant laws.
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