AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
Greensboro Nursing Home (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
Residents wanted safe outdoor access for mobility and therapy, but uneven terrain limited independence. The project built a nature trail with accessible tread, a boardwalk, and an improved viewing platform. It also added benches and signage to connect with village sidewalks. Now residents, families and staff use the trail for exercise and quiet breaks, and community members walk there daily. "Our new path and viewing platform and benches are being used... as a quiet, serene, restful place to regroup," said staff.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Windham, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Residents in Windham lacked safe, walkable spaces, making it hard for older adults to access public areas. To address this, the department upgraded a community park by adding a stone dust surface under a picnic pavilion, installing three ADA-compliant tables and building a 62-foot path to the parking lot. Volunteers age 50-plus helped with installation and joined the opening celebration. The pavilion now offers a shaded, accessible spot for socializing and watching park activities, supporting physical and emotional health for older adults. It also advances Age Friendly Windham's plan to improve public spaces and lays groundwork for a future GRACE Trail to encourage intergenerational recreation.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Villisca, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Villisca residents have few nearby recreation options, and older adults in particular needed accessible activities that encourage movement and connection with younger family members. The Villisca Community Betterment Association revitalized the local walking trail and added 20 StoryWalk frames, creating an interactive reading path that supports physical activity and literacy. Volunteers age 50-plus led most of the work, completing trail repairs, landscaping 17 areas and restoring the bridge. The project strengthened community engagement and created a long-term asset that invites repeated visits. One family was moved to restore a memorial to their daughter and attended the ribbon cutting with relatives, showing how the upgraded trail renewed pride in the shared space.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
McAlester, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Residents in a low-income neighborhood of McAlester lacked accessible recreation options. The city converted an underused tennis court into two pickleball courts, repairing the surface and installing nets and poles to create a safe, permanent space for active living. The courts encourage multi-generational play and social connection, offering older adults a low-impact way to stay healthy. The city plans to maintain the courts and expand amenities at the park, including a splash pad and trail upgrades, to further support active lifestyles.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Wolcott, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The Town of Wolcott lacked greenspace for community members to enjoy, so the Town transformed an unused space behind the local library into a new park. Dubbed Depot Park, the space includes a community garden with raised beds, as well as a public trailhead. To draw people in, volunteers installed outdoor games, solar-powered lighting, seating and free Wi-Fi access. Organizers wanted to make the park a year-round amenity, so they included a patio heater and bonfire. Additionally, the local fire department created a temporary ice-skating rink onsite. After completing the activation, the Town hosted its first community event in decades at Depot Park. Today, the library holds children's reading circles there. Plus, community members can harvest vegetables for free from the garden.
Lyndon, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The Town of Lyndon addressed a shortage of accessible seating that kept older adults from fully participating in events at Bandstand Park. Without places to rest, many residents stood for long periods or avoided activities altogether. The project installed six ADA-compliant picnic tables with wheelchair access near accessible parking and added a pollinator garden with raised beds and a vine trellis to create a calm, easy-to-navigate space. Educational signage and volunteers helped activate the area. Older adults now stay longer during concerts and the farmers market. Visitors use the tables for everyday gatherings, reinforcing the park as a reliable place for social connection and ongoing activities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Vermont State Office
199 Main Street
Suite 225
Burlington, VT 05401
United States