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Limestone Development Foundation with Age-Friendly Limestone (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
Part of larger efforts to revitalize a public park, this project created a walking path. Volunteers installed the path, which winds around newly installed playground equipment, giving residents of all ages a space to exercise and socialize. Project organizers say they are considering ways to expand the pathway to more areas of the park in the future.
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Keokuk, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: To improve community health concerns and opportunities for physical activity, Keokuk Parks Foundation converted a long-neglected set of tennis courts into six pickleball courts. In addition, they installed two benches onsite, along with a trash receptacle and signage. Today, the local library offers pickleball equipment on loan at its nearby site, while members of the local pickleball club conduct free lessons. The new courts have turned a neighborhood eyesore into a vibrant, attractive recreational outlet for residents. Pickleball -- a fast-paced game modeled on tennis and ping-pong -- is popular with older adults because it is low-impact and friendly on aging joints.
Hallowell, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Flooding wiped out picnic tables at Granite City Park, limiting access for older adults and visitors with mobility challenges. To restore usability, Vision Hallowell installed an ADA-accessible picnic table on a level platform with a smooth path from the parking lot and added bike racks for cyclists. Volunteers prepared the site, and the group hosted a celebration honoring decades of park improvements. These upgrades created durable amenities that enhance recreation and social connection. One local leader said the changes allow "people of all abilities to take in the environment and community."
Knik-Fairview, AK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Settler's Bay Park in Mat-Sui Valley is a sanctuary for residents and tourists seeking to view migratory birds and spawning salmon. To make the park ADA-compliant, the Anchorage Great Land Trust installed an accessible scenic overlook platform with seating. The platform enables park visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy majestic views of Cook Inlet from the area's only coastal park.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Caribou, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Caribou faced a hidden crisis of abuse of older adults, and volunteers were without tools to educate or intervene. The group built a multimedia toolkit with expert-backed content, video vignettes and safety features to guide prevention and reporting. The resource will be shared statewide and used in local programs, strengthening community capacity to protect older adults and empowering them to speak up and access help.
Fort Fairfield, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Downtown Fort Fairfield lacked green space, leaving older adults without a safe, accessible spot to relax or connect. The library created a Community Memorial Garden with an ADA-compliant path, electrified gazebo, memorial benches and solar lighting. The space now hosts programs like tea socials and poetry readings and offers free Wi-Fi for those without home internet. Residents visit to honor loved ones. One woman said she comes to visit with her sister at a memorial bench. The project has spurred donations and volunteer support, ensuring the garden remains a vibrant community hub.
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