Dexter, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: The Town of Dexter installed new benches on local streets and in parks to make them more accessible for older adults and those with mobility issues. Three parks -- Wayside, Ronco and Veterans Parks -- received the new benches. The Town also paved the entrance of Wayside Park, a popular gathering space for free weekly summer concerts. In addition, the Town offered Pop-Up Universities intended to provide residents with activities for learning, creativity and physical wellbeing, as well as social interaction. Topics include flower arranging, meditation and chair yoga.

Kingwood, WV

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Although this project originally set out to expand social activities at Decker's Creek Park, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to pivot. Instead, the Preston County Parks and Recreation Commission made improvements to the park's green space to increase walkability and accessibility for park visitors. They added an accessible picnic table, raised garden beds, trash cans, an information kiosk and a wooden sign for the park. They also planted the garden beds with pollinator-friendly perennials, with plans to invite the local Master Gardeners to use the plots in the future. In addition, the Parks and Recreation Commission painted and replaced boards on the park's pedestrian bridge. Since these upgrades, the Commission reports more visitors to the park, as well as an uptick in youth volunteer service. Recent projects include a new picnic table, outdoor classroom, little free library and bench.

Pensacola, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Keep Pensacola Beautiful's mission is to beautify public parks in low-income neighborhoods. The nonprofit launched its Harmony Park program in Englewood Park with the installation of three interactive musical instruments -- two types of xylophones and a colorful drum set. This created an unusual, educational opportunity for play for children at the neighboring Boys and Girls Club, who benefit from music lessons at the site. KPB's executive director Sigrid Solgard stressed that no musical experience was necessary to play the instruments. The notes are supposed to sound good together in any combination, she said.