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Parkersburg, WV

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: Downtown PKP wanted to build on its efforts to bring public art to Parkersburg. Over the years, the nonprofit created selfie stations and displayed welcome banners in the central business district. This project added a 40-foot mural. Downtown PKB held community listening sessions, where they asked residents what they love most about their town, as well as about their hopes for the future. Using the responses, a team of artists developed a design depicting a collage of smiling faces, local landmarks and butterflies. During four public paint parties, 300 volunteers worked to install the mural on the side of the Parkersburg Art Center. Project organizers say the collaborative effort culminated in public art that beautified Parkersburg's downtown.

Mount Sterling, KY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: This project will transform an unused downtown plot into an accessible garden featuring paths, benches, sculptures and flowers. The space is near an assisted living facility and a new senior center.

Granby, CO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: Granby hosted the RKY MTN WALLS street art festival, Grand County's first ever mural festival. Over seven days, Denver-based artists created eight massive murals on Main Street, which celebrate the area's diversity and culture. The festival also featured cornhole competitions, face painting and opportunities to create art on canvasses provided by event organizers. Following the festival, residents formed a public art committee to continue promoting community art.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Sandpoint, ID

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Trails

Description: After acquiring a new, 180-acre forest property, organizers with the Kanitsu Land Trust wanted to ensure people of all ability levels could enjoy it. So they created an all-abilities trail to draw visitors to the site. Pine Street Woods now boasts half a mile of accessible walkways, as well as four new benches. Since completing these improvements, the Land Trust reports an uptick in trail use, with over 100 visitors per day in summer 2020. The trail now serves as an example to municipal leaders of how to address accessibility challenges that limit outdoor access for those with mobility issues.

Spokane, WA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project will add 12 raised beds to an existing community garden and donate surplus produce to a local senior center and a church.

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