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Hettinger Area Chamber of Commerce (2018) | AARP Livable Communities Map

Hettinger Area Chamber of Commerce (2018) Print

2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee

Project Category

Public places
└ Public space activation

To expand recreation options for residents of Hettinger, this project activated Centennial Square, an underused space in the city's downtown. The Hettinger Area Chamber of Commerce added outdoor games to the square, including Jenga and chess. Organizers say they hope the games plaza draw people downtown and provide opportunities for intergenerational activities. "The biggest highlight of this project was the way that a few games brought together a diverse spread of community members of different ages," Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jasmin Fosheim said.

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.

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.

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.

Lemmon, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: 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.

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.

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