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Main Street Manning (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Organizers with Manning Main Street hoped to encourage visitors to Manning's vibrant downtown to congregate and socialize. To create an inviting environment, they installed twelve artistic lights along Main Street. Local artisans created the lights, which are comprised of panels featuring cutouts depicting local landmarks, including the town's water tower, trestle bridge and historic Lutheran church. The additional illumination also enhances safety in the area. In the years since, Main Street Manning has focused on streetscaping and has added more art installations downtown.
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Newnan, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project set out to activate a neglected alleyway, which they christened Carnegie-Thompson Alley. The space connects to a planned trail system spanning downtown Newnan. To allow residents to gather in the space, project organizers purchased seating and lighting. Public art installations are planned for the site, as well as repaving to ensure accessibility.
Conyers, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The grounds of the Conyers-Rockdale Library offer locals an attractive, relaxing place to work remotely and enjoy the area's natural surroundings. Through its Birds, Benches and Blooms project, the library installed brightly colored benches around the grounds, including one on the Olde Town Conyers Trail, a well-traveled bicycle and pedestrian path. Project organizers also installed hand-crafted wooden bird feeders with live stream cameras, allowing residents to watch birds in person and from home. Additionally, the library bought two weather-protected corkboards to display community announcements.
Kamiah, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To create a gathering place for their rural community and provide opportunities for social connection, the Carrot Ridge Volunteer Fire District equipped its red-sided, barn-like building with tables, chairs and small appliances. They then hosted a dinner to thank the many volunteers who donated time, land, building supplies and more to build the center during its construction. Since then, the center has hosted chili cook-offs, a community Thanksgiving event and barbeques for hundreds of residents.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Manning, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: Manning City Hall possesses a collection of important historical artifacts, but because of space constraints, most of them were kept in storage in the building's basement. To allow residents to see the items, the City of Manning installed eighteen glass display cases and placed them throughout the community, creating a reverse museum tour. They distributed brochures explaining how a reverse museum helps display artifacts without the cost of building a standalone facility. The leaflets also give information on the artifacts displayed, which range from small trinkets to World War II nurse's uniforms. Project organizers say the displays have inspired residents to explore their own basements and attics in search of more items to donate. The project also sparked the local library to open a designated room -- dubbed the vault -- to host larger exhibits.
Manning, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Disaster Preparedness
Description: This project will create a disaster response kit for the community, enabling volunteers to assist safely and effectively. Community-wide trainings will help individuals prepare with checklists and personal kits.
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