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Grand River Arts Council (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Older adults in Lemmon lacked accessible spaces to rest or gather, and the Palace Theater offered no easy entry for those with mobility challenges. To address this, the arts council installed a movable parklet with seating and a ramp, creating a welcoming spot for walkers and hosting monthly arts events like wool-spinning workshops and live music during the town celebration. The project proved the value of public gathering spaces, sparking plans for permanent bump-outs and green space.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Cuba City, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: For more than ten years, Cuba City's planning documents promised an intergenerational gathering space downtown. This project made good on that promise, converting a gravel parking lot into a gathering space. Organizers hoped the Presidential Plaza Project would increase walkability and draw traffic to Cuba City's Main Street business district. To activate the space, volunteers installed a bike rack, outdoor games and picnic tables with umbrellas for shade. A Wi-Fi hotspot provides free internet access for visitors. To beautify the area, residents painted a large mural on the pavement, which pays tribute to frontline workers' contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. A later addition to the mural depicts the Mississippi river and includes an area for visitors to play hopscotch.
Lake County, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: For decades, outdated facilities at the Bison Range limited Tribal elders' ability to gather and connect with their heritage. The Tribes addressed this by installing a wheelchair-accessible shelter near a popular trail and adding ADA-compliant picnic tables, fire rings and pedestal grills-features designed for safety and ease of use. These upgrades transformed the Visitor Center area into an inclusive space for cultural events and family outings. The project also set the stage for broader accessibility improvements, including a redesigned entrance and safer walking paths, reinforcing the Range's role as a place where history and community thrive.
Fort Lawn, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: In a rural area with few recreational options and high rates of chronic disease, the Center created an ADA-compliant mini park with picnic tables, benches, bike racks and a gazebo with swings. Concrete paths improved wheelchair access, and signage guided visitors. The space now hosts multigenerational activities, from picnics for older adults to pop-up markets. One resident said, "It's good for my soul to be able to just come sit out here with friends. We're safe and it's beautiful."
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Lemmon, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Staff at the Lemmon Public Library saw a need to reduce social isolation in town, particularly among older residents. To address this, they set out to improve the library's public gathering space. Project organizers created a new bakery cafe, purchasing folding tables with stacking chairs, an acrylic pastry cabinet, a cake cover and cupcake display, tablecloths and pump pots for coffee. Since the cafe's opening, the library has used new tables and chairs at hundreds of events and the space has accommodated pop-up shops. The opportunity to bake for the cafe led some residents to launch their own baking businesses and one retired baker was inspired to plan a workshop for women starting businesses. Sparked by the success of the cafe, library staff have since pursued other opportunities to expand community space, including providing library patrons with an outdoor area for reading and gathering.
Lemmon, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: As local dance traditions faded and older adults lost safe spaces to participate, the library introduced a portable dance floor for community use. The floor was checked out for concerts, farmers markets and themed dances, creating opportunities for intergenerational gatherings. The project sparked renewed interest in cultural traditions, with organizations planning monthly dances and winter classes. One resident said seeing the floor inspired her to donate funds for lessons, showing how the effort energized the community.
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