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KNOX Inc. (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
KNOX rebuilt and upgraded the Hartford's Broad Street Community Garden to allow people of all ages and abilities to easily garden there. They added 22 raised garden beds, making plots more accessible to children, people with disabilities and older residents. Additionally, the organization hired a contractor to repair a garden fence and purchased a picnic table and a pergola -- a structure to create shade for gardeners. Since then, KNOX continues to create gardening opportunities for Hartford residents. The Hartford Courant reported in 2021 that KNOX manages 20 community gardens with a cumulative five acres of space. These include nearly 660 plots, each with an average size of 12 square feet.
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Kansas City, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: An underused green space will be improved with raised garden beds, benches, tables and a shade structure. These updates will make it easier for neighbors, especially adults age 50-plus, to garden, rest and gather comfortably outdoors.
Newark, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Newark's Central Ward struggles with food insecurity, leaving older adults and families without access to fresh produce. To address this, the organization expanded a school-based garden at Louise A. Spencer Elementary, adding beds designed for older adults and providing adaptive tools. Residents now maintain the garden during summer, ensuring sustainability and fostering intergenerational ties. One student said gardening with his grandmother "reminds him of his dad and helps him feel close to his culture."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Anchorage, AK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project will add accessible garden beds, benches, and signage to its community gardens. This will support older adults with mobility challenges and provide education on food security and local food production.
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Hartford, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project improved accessibility at Pope Park for older adults and people with disabilities. Project organizers installed ADA-compliant picnic tables with benches, designed to accommodate individuals using scooters or wheelchairs. The added amenities upgraded an area of the park with a play area and spray pool for small children. In this predominantly low-income neighborhood few homes have front or back yards, making Pope Park an important outdoor space for residents of all ages. Project organizers say the new seating highlighted a need for more accessible pathways in the park, which are now being designed.
Wethersfield, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: To improve the walkability and bikeability Wethersfield, the Town installed bike racks, signage and benches at several locations, including recreational spaces, municipal facilities and commercial areas. In addition, the town created walk and bike path maps, which it posted online.
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