Surry, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project will create a notice board to display local town and emergency information at the local post office, a regular meeting space. This will specifically benefit older residents who are unable to access information online.

Castleton-on-Hudson, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The Village of Castleton-on-Hudson regularly hosts a Repair Cafe event, where volunteers repaired any item brought to them, if possible. One problem: the event takes place on the second floor of a Village Hall, which has no elevator. This posed an accessibility issue -- locals often complained about climbing the building's difficult staircase. To solve this, the Village moved its Repair Cafe to Noyes Engine House. They also worked to activate a vacant lot next door, installing a community bulletin board, benches and planters onsite. The improvements support wider efforts to revitalize the village's downtown, with the goal of drawing more people to the central business district.

Herington, KS

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The pocket park in downtown Herington lacked seating, so grant funds were used to purchase benches and an accessible picnic table. The seating was a catalyst for further investment in the pocket park, including shade coverings, a drinking fountain, mural, and landscaping.