Elkhorn, WI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Elkhorn lacked an outdoor space designed for older adults, leaving many residents with mobility challenges and few options for social connection. The Chamber transformed a vacant downtown lot into an ADA-accessible park with clustered seating, lighting, tables and a water feature. The space quickly hosted major events, including a high school reunion and a holiday festival, and is now reserved for dementia-friendly programs and book clubs. A local business owner who uses a wheelchair said that he was able to fully utilize the space for the first time and that it felt effortless, underscoring its inclusive design and lasting impact.

Hot Springs, AR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project activated a space along Malvern Avenue, allowing visitors to enjoy a new mural paying tribute to cultural history. To showcase the mural, the City added a new sidewalk, greenery, iron sculptures and a music-themed bench nearby. The work was among the first reinvestments in an area that was known from the 1930s to 1960s as Black Broadway -- home to entertainment venues which hosted performances by legendary musicians, including Count Basie, Duke Ellington and B.B. King. Since its completion, the space -- which the City named Henry Glover Place -- has helped spark further revitalization. The City undertook four other neighborhood improvement projects nearby, including upgrades to a parking lot, new landscaping and building restorations. The City plans to make additional streetscape improvements in the future.

England, AR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Ward 3 in England faced decades of neglect, leaving older adults without safe spaces for connection or activity. The Serenity Garden project transformed a vacant lot into a vibrant hub, adding a farm stand, foot-operated wash station, bike rack with a repair station, shade structures and murals. Accessible paths and fitness signage made gardening and exercise achievable for residents age 50-plus. These upgrades fostered pride and inclusion. Neighbors in wheelchairs joined concerts and picked fresh produce, while murals boosted visibility and hope for renewal. As one resident noted, the improvements made summer gatherings more enjoyable and strengthened community ties.