AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
The Heart of Lebanon (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Older adults often skipped downtown events because seating was scarce and carrying chairs or umbrellas was difficult. To remove these barriers, the organization introduced the Helping Hub, a mobile cart stocked with folding and collapsible chairs with armrests. It also includes umbrella-cane combos for shade and mobility support and brochures on local services. Volunteers assembled and deployed the cart at events, making gatherings more inclusive. Participants expressed gratitude, saying it felt like "rolling out the welcome mat." The cart will continue to serve future events and is prompting other groups to consider similar accessibility measures.
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
Pendleton, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: An unused downtown lot offered little for community life, leaving older adults without a welcoming outdoor space. The Foundation transformed it into a pocket park with seating, shade and landscaping, then hosted 30 conversation events pairing older adults with students. Festive activities like Letters to Santa and a ribbon-tying ceremony drew attention to the space. Residents now gather there for informal meetups and envision more amenities, making the park a hub for connection and intergenerational engagement.
Allentown, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley installed new tables, benches and chairs, lighting and flower beds at the entrance to a local senior center. The enhancements helped create a safe, comfortable outdoor space for community members of all ages. Nearly 90 older adults use the Center on a daily basis and visitors now use the space to relax and converse. Project organizers report visitors and staff appreciate the beautiful space and say it has instilled a sense of pride in the community. Inspired by the success of this project, the United Way went on to plan a similar gathering space at another community center.
Rapid City, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Visitors in busy community spaces often had no place to sit, leaving people without a comfortable spot to rest during walks or long visits. To address this, the group partnered with a welding class to design and build two ADA-compliant benches, which were finished with powder coating and installed on new concrete pads. Placing them in the market park created the only seating in that area and offered shaded resting spots for people spending time there. Members said the project helped them recognize broader unmet needs in their community and inspired future efforts. One volunteer noted that the benches were placed in "perfect shaded areas", making the park easier for people to enjoy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Frankfort, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Older adults had no safe outdoor walking option and were forced to loop around a busy parking lot. CORE created a full-loop path with lighting, landscaping and benches for rest stops, plus trash and dog waste stations to keep the area clean. The new path offers a secure, scenic space for walking and biking, encouraging physical activity and social connection. Residents praised the project as a positive use of land that benefits people of all ages and look forward to spending more time outdoors.
Newport, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Newport wanted to encourage community members to eat locally grown fresh produce. In partnership with the Jamestown Community Garden, the Center wrote and published the first two chapters of a community cookbook. They then distributed copies of the book through the local food pantry. The first chapter offers tips on cooking with fall produce -- such as zucchini and squash -- and the second focuses on cooking for one. In addition, the center hosted a food expo, which gave residents access to info about local food resources. The community center intends to host similar events in the future.
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 Indiana State Office
One N. Capitol Avenue
Suite 1275
Indianapolis, IN 46204
United States