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Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Responding to growing social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers with the Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation hoped to give residents a place to socialize outdoors. Focusing on Milwaukee neighborhoods with a high density of vacant lots and a lack of public green space, the nonprofit repurposed vacant, city-owned parcels into community gathering spaces. Volunteers mowed grass and removed debris to prepare the lots. The resulting five Healing Spaces now feature benches, pergolas, perennial flowers and ADA-compliant walking paths. Soon after activating one formerly vacant lot, organizers reported seeing teens picnicking onsite -- a sign of the space's potential to foster togetherness. Today, the spaces host community events, including yoga sessions and health workshops.
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Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Many residents of Houston's Gulfton neighborhood live in apartment buildings, which lack outdoor space. Organizers with My Connect Community set out to give these residents a place to gather. They created a placemaking tool kit tailored to multifamily property owners. The kit includes portable carts adorned with laser-cut designs meant to represent Gulfton's diversity. Each cart also features a shade umbrella and a chalkboard. Additionally, the kits include outdoor rugs, bistro lighting and seating. Then My Connect Community hosted a series of pop-up events on side streets and in on-street parking spaces. The temporary activations gave Gulfton residents a chance to socialize with one another and allowed organizers to share information about community resources, such as public transit service and library programming. In the future, My Connect Community hopes to ensure community events are culturally informed and engage volunteers who speak residents' languages.
Eldridge, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The project addressed the lack of a safe place for exercise and social interaction, especially for older adults who previously walked along busy highways or stayed inactive due to limited options. It created a welcoming outdoor area with a covered gathering space, playground equipment and seating, along with added features that encouraged grandparents and families to spend time together. The improvements strengthened community ties and provided a reliable place for residents to meet and reconnect. As one resident said, "Having this new space in our community is wonderful... I get to sit in the swing and read a book or visit with a neighbor."
Monroeville, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Organizers with Monroeville's Main Street initiative hoped to draw residents to the city's historic downtown district. To give people a reason to gather outdoors, they added wheelchair-accessible game tables and seating in several locations, including the grounds of the Monroe County Museum, two parks, the local YMCA and a senior center. The organization also purchased checkers and chess game pieces, which are available to visitors to check out. Part of a larger campaign to decrease littering and encourage community pride, organizers also installed trash cans downtown. And to increase facetime with constituents, the newly elected mayor also called on residents to challenge him to a game of chess or checkers. Organizers say the placemaking project is meant to unite the community by giving people a place to connect with each other.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: Reckless driving left many residents, especially older adults, feeling unsafe and isolated. To address this, the city launched a traffic calming lending library stocked with cones, looper tubes and other materials. In addition, it partnered with Wisconsin Bike Fed to host workshops and street demonstrations. Residents tested options like traffic circles and curb extensions and learned about permanent solutions. The hands-on approach gave older adults a voice in street design and sparked plans to expand the program, update guidelines and make neighborhoods safer for walking.
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: As part of the ongoing efforts to improve Gardner Park, the City of Milwaukee added a new community gathering space. Located in the Menomonee River Hills neighborhood, the intergenerational space features a gravel patio area, as well as wheelchair-accessible tables with built-in game boards, benches, an information kiosk and new landscaping. Previously, the City installed a new playground, walking path and fitness equipment at the park. Project organizers say in recent years the neighborhood has welcomed an influx of new families -- including those from the Hmong community -- underscoring the need for a public space for neighbors to meet and socialize.
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