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Rapid City, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will install ADA-compliant park benches, designed and built by students, at a farmers market and city park.
Orange County, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To promote safe, physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Curry Ford West created a pop-up park on a vacant lot. During a community event, two-hundred volunteers constructed a labyrinth onsite made of brightly painted recycled pallets. The park remained in place for a month. Project organizers say the park and labyrinth helped connect the community during a time when people were separated. They also report the pop-up project helped demonstrate to local government leaders the importance of community green space. In the future, Curry Ford West hopes to install more pop-up parks as part of its advocacy for more public spaces in Orlando.
Derry, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To encourage community bonding and intergenerational connections, the Marion Gerrish Community Center created an outdoor space for people to play games. The Center chose large games -- including cornhole, bocce, Jenga, Connect Four, Yardzee, Farkel, chess and checkers -- that would be easy to play and visible from the street. They made the area designated for the games level, ensuring it would be accessible and safe. The Center offers weekly times for older adults to play cornhole and bocce. Community members can sign out the games for use on the property and the Center also loans them out for local events, including Derry Fest, the Derry Farmers Market and the local police departments' National Nite Out.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Manhattan, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Manhattan's busiest intersections needed safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists. To address this, the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization installed curb extensions and pedestrian islands at key locations within the community, including in front of the local elementary school. The enhancements made the crossings more visible, placing priority on people rather than vehicles. Organizers say the project showed residents and government leadership that it's possible to improve walkability and make neighborhoods safer on a modest budget.
Newton, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project installed ADA-compliant benches and educational signage at a future wetlands park located one mile from a large retirement community. It also created safety warnings and pavement markings at the site.
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