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Missoula Parks and Recreation (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
To improve public health and increase residents' physical activity, the City of Missoula launched the Rx Trails program. Through the initiative, the local Parks and Recreation Department partners with local health care providers encourage patients to walk. The City worked to designate a path through McCormick Park as an Rx trail -- pathways featuring amenities including, drinking fountains, benches and accessible parking. They installed two benches and posted a map to help visitors navigate the trail. Additionally, they distributed promotional materials to residents to inform them about Rx Trails.
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Joppa, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Joppa has one community park, which lacked accessibility features. With the help of volunteers, the Village of Joppa installed accessible seating, picnic tables, tire swings and belt swings and other amenities. Project organizers say they hope the upgrades allow people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the park.
Edgemont, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: An abandoned tennis court in the town's only park left older adults with few options for daily physical activity. Volunteers transformed the space into two regulation pickleball courts by resurfacing and painting the area. They also installed posts and nets near the local adult center to have easy equipment access. The courts now offer low-impact exercise and social interaction, helping reduce isolation and health risks. Daily use reports and plans for tournaments signal lasting benefits for residents and visitors, who have expressed excitement that these courts are now available.
Brunswick, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: City of Brunswick lacked inclusive outdoor spaces in Goodyear Park, a diverse neighborhood where many residents are age 50-plus. The city enhanced a permanent labyrinth with landscaping, ADA-compliant benches, accessible sidewalks and wayfinding signage to connect the site with nearby medical facilities. The transformation created a serene space for reflection and healing, strengthened city-community partnerships and drew interest from groups serving older adults and people with disabilities. Residents report improved access and comfort-one shared, "The paved path improves the access to the labyrinth for older adults, like me, and others with balance issues."
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Missoula, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Missoula's Transportation Planning hoped to improve safety at a busy intersection in the Riverfront neighborhood, while also giving people a space to gather. First, project organizers asked residents and local business owners for their ideas to improve the streetscape. Ahead of activating the intersection, the city's public works department made upgrades to pavement and water mains. Based on community feedback, Missoula Transportation Planning then created bulb-outs, which extend the curb into the intersection, giving pedestrians extra space, making them more visible to drivers and shortening the distance needed to cross the road. Curb ramps make the crosswalks accessible. To create a seating area, they also created two parklets -- mini-parks that fit in the footprint of on-street parking spaces. The parklets featured art, a space to park bikes and decorative foliage.
Missoula, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Missoula's farmers markets are vital for older adults using SNAP. Yet uneven brick streets, steep ramps and missing sidewalks make access difficult. To address this, the Coalition led walk audits at three markets, covering 2.1 miles and 23 intersections with more than 40 volunteers, including older adults. Audits revealed hazards like debris and poor crossings and tested a mock Neighborway with painted paths and planters to show safer routes. Findings prompted city leaders to integrate accessibility audits into future planning and advanced momentum for permanent improvements. Participants spoke highly of the Neighborway and felt safer having a dedicated space for non-motorized traffic.
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