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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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North Las Vegas, NV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: North Las Vegas hoped to encourage residents to get outside for exercise and recreation. As part of its All the Best Paths are Taken by Foot campaign, the City installed concrete benches along walking paths within city parks. The benches sit along sidewalks and near outdoor athletic courts. When selecting parks to receive the benches, project organizers examined the existing amenities and prioritized areas with larger older adult populations. To help people navigate to nearby parks, the City erected wayfinding signs. Project organizers also launched a social media campaign and distributed flyers showcasing the improvements and describing the health benefits of walking.
Plains, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Older adults in Plains needed low-cost exercise options, yet available facilities offered limited court space and few features designed for comfort or safety. The Plains Pickleball Association upgraded local courts with an equipment shed, benches, a windbreak and a paved walkway that created safer entry points and shaded places to rest. These additions also protected gear and improved access for players learning during beginner nights, where many older adults participate. The improvements encouraged more residents to stay active and socialize in a safe environment. Community members said the updates "provided the finishing touches," noting how the sheltered seating and stable walking surface made play more welcoming.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Seattle, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Pickleball's surge in Seattle left many lined courts without nets, limiting access for older adults who relied on the sport for fitness and social connection. To address this, the association installed five semi-permanent nets at three sites, including lighted courts for evening play, and organized free clinics for beginners and women-only sessions. These efforts transformed neglected spaces into active hubs, prompting community funding to add more nets and complete two major centers. Today, residents enjoy year-round play and multigenerational gatherings. As one participant shared, "The laughter and smiles brought from engaging pickleball in safe communities was heartwarming."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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