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Loogootee Beautification Committee (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
As part of efforts to create a new, multi-use community space, the Loogootee Beautification Committee commissioned a local artist to create a massive mural downtown. Community members worked with the artist to plan the artwork, which they then installed on the side of an abandoned building on Loogootee's main square. Work occurred as the City prepared to renovate the building and revitalize the area. In the future, the City hopes to hold its annual festival at the site of the mural. Project organizers also report the project helped gather community feedback, which will inform future placemaking projects.
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Granby, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Granby hosted the RKY MTN WALLS street art festival, Grand County's first ever mural festival. Over seven days, Denver-based artists created eight massive murals on Main Street, which celebrate the area's diversity and culture. The festival also featured cornhole competitions, face painting and opportunities to create art on canvasses provided by event organizers. Following the festival, residents formed a public art committee to continue promoting community art.
Reno, NV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: A Reno neighborhood plagued by aging sidewalks and poor walkability needed a way to restore pride and connection. The project led six design workshops and volunteer days to prepare walls for three large murals co-created by residents and local artists. These vibrant installations transformed neglected spaces into community landmarks, strengthened social ties and spotlighted safety issues like missing sidewalks and crosswalks. The effort is expected to inspire future art projects and advocacy for street improvements, creating a more inviting and connected environment for older adults and neighbors alike.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Lancaster, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: SACA set out to create a more welcoming plaza by lifting up the migration stories of older adults whose histories were not widely known. The organization recorded ten oral stories and linked them to QR codes placed across the neighborhood, then commissioned a steel sculpture shaped like a travel trunk releasing monarch butterflies to symbolize movement and renewal. They also installed six interpretive panels and hosted a community block party. The project is expected to preserve elders' stories over time as SACA refreshes the recordings and expands its annual "Voices of Migration" art show. A neighbor's suggestion for a monarch theme helped shape the sculpture, showing how resident input guided the work. The effort also prompted further plaza improvements and sparked interest in replicating the project in other cities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Washington, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management
Description: Older adults in Washington struggled with limited transit and safety concerns that kept them from using the bike library. To address this, six adult trikes with helmets, baskets and safety gear were added to the library at Jamestown Square Apartments. A health fair introduced the trikes and promoted active living. Residents now ride to stores, appointments and community events on their own schedule, reducing reliance on buses and rides from others. The project also strengthened social ties and sparked local conversations about transportation. One participant said, "The trikes...allowed me to ride to the grocery store without having to wait for the bus."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Jasonville, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Jasonville lacked safe sidewalks for older adults to walk and socialize, with no local gyms and uneven routes limiting activity. The Heritage Walkway project added ADA-compliant sidewalks, benches, signage and lighting around the downtown Heritage Block. Volunteers painted a colorful crosswalk leading to the community garden. The walkway now connects key destinations and offers a safe space for exercise and gathering. Residents praised the improvements during a community event, and plans include hosting farmers markets and seasonal activities to keep the area vibrant.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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