AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
Living Streets Alliance (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Older adults in Tucson face isolation and unsafe streets in a car-centric city. To counter this, the project turned .75 miles of Amphi neighborhood roads into a lively corridor for biking, walking and cultural exchange. The event featured a resource fair with health screenings and housing support, plus a holiday market showcasing refugee artisans. About 750 residents attended, nearly half age 50-plus, and older adults served as volunteers and ambassadors. Organizers created a Cyclovita Toolkit and multilingual outreach materials so neighborhoods can replicate the model. A local health institution pledged support for future events. One participant noted that his family can now easily visit the area, and his children and grandchildren can play safely.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Sacramento, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: Older adults in Sacramento's Meadowview neighborhood faced isolation and health risks tied to a neglected park. To address this, Civic Thread hosted visioning workshops and a pop-up activation at 24th Street Bypass Park, featuring food, music, art and exercise activities designed for people age 50-plus. The event encouraged civic engagement and sparked plans for long-term improvements. Residents expressed excitement about future changes, with one saying she was "so happy to continue to see work being done to make things happen at their park."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Ronceverte, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: This project will support the creation of a multigenerational entertainment destination and provide low-impact exercise for residents of all ages.
Hilo, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: Like in many communities around the country, older adults in Hilo were particularly isolated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. To help older adults connect with friends and neighbors, the East Hawai'i Cultural Center created an outdoor mobile stage. The modular stage hosted free and low-cost theatre, dance, music, hula, poetry performances and lectures at venues throughout the community, including several at two senior centers.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Activities that address social isolation and facilitate community connections
Description: The Southern Arizona Arts Culture Alliance spearheaded a community-wide care package campaign, which provided hospital patients and residents of assisted living communities with creative experiences. The packages included DIY bookmarks and journaling kits, CDs with recordings of local musicians, coloring pages designed by local artists, greeting cards and jewelry making and craft activities. The organization created the packages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which put a pause to onsite arts and crafts activities. The Alliance delivered more than 1,000 packages to individuals receiving care at the partnering communities.
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: The project addressed a critical shortage of safe, affordable assisted living for low-income older adults in Tucson. Volunteers made renovations to 19 units, adding new flooring, paint and bathroom fixtures to improve accessibility and comfort. These upgrades created a more sustainable living environment and lifted residents' spirits. One resident shared that she now can wake up in the morning with a smile on her face, underscoring the impact of these improvements on daily life.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Arizona State Office
7250 N 16th Street
Suite 302
Phoenix, AZ 85020
United States