Tucson, AZ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: City officials set out to revitalize the underused Francisco Elias Esquer Park, located around the corner from a large public housing community for older adults in Tucson's Barrio Blue Moon neighborhood. To address the needs of locals with disabilities, volunteers installed a wheelchair accessible walking path, benches and a dog comfort station for service animals. They also added passive water harvesting basins to draw birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife. At a planting party for community members -- one of several events to publicize the new amenities -- neighbors spent a day digging in the dirt and enjoying a renewed sense of community.

Viborg, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: This project will renovate and upgrade a community picnic shelter by improving accessibility, safety, and usability—including ADA-compliant seating, electrical upgrades, and enhancements designed to better serve residents aged 50-plus.

Manchester, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Queen City Bicycle Collective addressed safety and access barriers that discouraged older adults from biking or walking in public parks. Limited bike parking, visibility concerns and fear of theft made active travel feel risky. The project installed new bicycle racks in parks and distributed free locks, lights and rechargeable high-visibility vests and sashes. The additions helped residents feel safer and more confident using parks for walking and biking. One older adult said the vest improved his visibility and made daily walks feel safer.

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