Ravenna, NE

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Two outdoor pickleball courts will be constructed at the park, with concrete surfaces, fencing and permanent nets. The project will give residents a safer place to play and gather.

Carrington, ND

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: The first phase of a public garden enhancement will add smooth concrete walkways and resting spots to create clear, accessible movement. These features will make it easier to walk through the gardens and spend time outdoors near downtown services.

Spearfish, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Many older adults living in east Spearfish wanted nearby places to walk or ride that felt manageable and safe, but existing trail options were often too far away or too challenging to reach from home. Spearfish Trails Coalition addressed this gap by building a new trail system that directly connects nearby neighborhoods to Lookout Mountain Park, creating beginner-friendly routes suitable for walking and cycling. The trails were designed to accommodate a wide range of abilities and brought residents together through volunteer trail days and a community ribbon-cutting event. Several older adults shared that the new routes prompted them to return to biking or walking after giving it up because other trails felt too difficult. By linking neighborhoods to open space, the project expanded everyday access to outdoor activity and established a lasting, close-to-home recreation option for older adults.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.