Monroe, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: To give people an outdoor space to socialize in the heart of downtown, the City of Monroe transformed its visitor center's concrete patio into a new mini-park. The City brightened up the area by adding planters, seating, outdoor games and a mural painted by local youth. The City then unveiled the new space during the local fall festival. Additionally, project organizers made enhancements to the existing hammock park located next to the visitor's center. The site offers visitors a spot to relax in one of several hammocks. To accommodate more foot traffic, the City added bench swings and pergolas for shade. Inspired by the visitor center improvements, nearby businesses put out their own planters by their storefronts. Project organizers say the upgrades helped lift the spirits of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Macon, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Before 24/7 television, air-conditioning and smartphones, sitting outside and talking over a game of chess or checkers was a popular pastime. To give residents of all ages in South Macon a place to gather, South Macon Art Revitalization Technology purchased outdoor checkerboard tables and two oversized Connect Four games. A crew of neighborhood residents serve as volunteer game instructors onsite. "Chess, checkers and Connect Four are games that require critical thinking, patience and skill," SMART secretary Frankie Lewis said, noting that many older people in the neighborhood are accomplished chess and checkers players. "We want to make sure their skills don't get lost due to the lack of activity, and we want the elders in our community to share their knowledge with people here of all ages, but especially our youth."

Akron, OH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Older adults in North Hill had few accessible public places to gather as longtime meeting spots faded and social isolation grew. Residents age 50 and over, including people from immigrant and refugee communities, lacked outdoor spaces that reflected their culture and supported everyday social connection. North Hill Community Development Corporation addressed this gap by transforming an underused area into the Howard Street Heritage Courtyard, a walkable public plaza shaped directly by older residents. Participants helped guide mural themes, seating and programming. The space added benches, walking paths, lighting and public art to support rest and conversation. The courtyard now serves as a permanent gathering place where older adults remain visible participants in neighborhood life. Cultural stories embedded in the art and events encourage intergenerational connection and reduce isolation.

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