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The Kansas Learning Center for Health Inc. (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
The Kansas Learning Center for Health addressed isolation and health disparities by creating a welcoming outdoor space in Halstead. Eight benches and four swings were installed in the community garden, fitness area and shaded historic corner, giving older adults safe places to rest and connect. Volunteers and residents age 50-plus added 20 colorful art pieces to concrete pads, turning the area into a vibrant destination. The project has boosted walkability and social engagement, with one participant noting, "I go walking daily and it has been a blessing to have places to stop and rest."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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See More Projects Like This One
East St. Louis, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: As part of its efforts to boost public transit use and spart economic development around transit stations, Citizens for Modern Transit activated the Emerson Park light rail and bus station in East St. Louis. To choose a theme for the station and ensure the new amenities would meet the community's needs, project organizers held design workers and other community engagement events. They then installed new seating, shade structures and a sound system to pipe music into the space. A local artist collaborated with community members to create pavement art and a mural, which pay tribute to the area's musical history. Organizers say they hope the new space promotes creative play, cultivates community and encourages people to ride public transit.
Berea, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Greenville County's Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department created a backyard space to the Berea Community Center. A new walking path loop connects the center to new amenities, with include swinging benches, horseshoe pits and a community garden space. The site also features improved landscaping. Project organizers constructed beds for the gardens at a variety of heights -- including three wheelchair-accessible pull-up beds -- to accommodate visitors of different ability levels.
Chelsea, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Chelsea lacked spaces that reflect its Latinx culture, leaving older adults without a welcoming place to gather while accessing essential services. La Colaborativa addressed this by creating La Plazita, an outdoor pavilion connected to the new Survival Center, featuring covered tables, art and music. Completed in late 2023, the plaza now hosts cultural celebrations and offers respite from daily challenges. It has become a multi-generational hub that restores a sense of identity and is expected to inspire similar spaces in other communities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Newton, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Downtown Newton needed a way to connect generations and enliven Railroad Park near the train station. Newton Murals & Arts Project created a metal mural featuring Kansas-themed figures and papel picado designs, with local students submitting artwork and welding pieces. Volunteers and students celebrated their work at a ribbon cutting, and the mural now offers travelers and residents a vibrant stop. "It is a wonderful thing to deliver a project in the community that is possible because of all the people who get involved and help make it happen," said a project lead. Plans for lighting and seating will further enhance the space as the mural naturally ages into a lasting attraction.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Wichita, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: In an urban neighborhood with limited access to fresh food, uneven paths and traditional garden beds made it difficult for residents with mobility challenges to take part in community gardening. Older adults and others with injuries or physical limitations were especially affected. Riverside Garden improved access by adding stable walkways, accessible pads and raised garden beds designed for people who need to sit or use wheelchairs, along with ergonomic tools that reduce strain. These changes allowed more residents to garden safely and participate in events at the site. One gardener shared that after ankle, foot and knee injuries made bending painful, the new raised beds allowed her to continue gardening and stay connected to the community. The improvements expanded who could use the space and strengthened the garden's role as a shared, inclusive gathering place.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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