Bismarck, ND

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: As part of Bismarck's Health in All Policies initiative, the City made improvements to its 16th Street Park, intending to create a sense of place and encourage residents to be active outdoors. To revitalize the park, project organizers installed a new bench, ADA-accessible picnic table and game table. Local artists also designed a mural for a building onsite and decorated walkways with sidewalk chalk art. To complete the activation, volunteers created designs by pushing colorful plastic cups through the park's chain link fences. Additionally, the City conducted a temporary traffic calming demonstration at a nearby roundabout in an effort to make the area safer for pedestrians.

Greeley, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Greeley lacked a downtown corridor and gathering spaces, leaving residents without a sense of place. The project installed decorative light poles along State Highway 38, creating a focal point and sparking community pride. The grant also prompted events like a car cruise and soup supper, which had not occurred in years, and helped raise funds for future improvements. One volunteer said, "I think it's great for our small town and it's a great starting point for more good things to come." Plans include adding more light poles and playground equipment to continue revitalization.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Kennett Square, PA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: With the goal of supporting small businesses downtown, this project created the first parklet in Kennett Square. Before installing the mini-park, only one side of the borough's main street featured wide sidewalks and could be closed to vehicles on the weekends. Project organizers hoped to expand the space available for outdoor dining and gathering. To do this, the Historic Kennett Square repurposed three on-street parking spaces, installing deck flooring, adding overhead string lights and setting out picnic tables and planters. Four restaurants -- two coffee shops and two restaurants -- used the space. Volunteers designed the parklet be torn down ahead of the winter months and set back up in the spring. Project organizers say the parklet helped demonstrate the value of placemaking projects.