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Newton Murals & Arts Project (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
Downtown Newton needed a way to connect generations and enliven Railroad Park near the train station. Newton Murals & Arts Project created a metal mural featuring Kansas-themed figures and papel picado designs, with local students submitting artwork and welding pieces. Volunteers and students celebrated their work at a ribbon cutting, and the mural now offers travelers and residents a vibrant stop. "It is a wonderful thing to deliver a project in the community that is possible because of all the people who get involved and help make it happen," said a project lead. Plans for lighting and seating will further enhance the space as the mural naturally ages into a lasting attraction.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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See More Projects Like This One
Lihue, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Lihue's downtown faced unsafe, car-centric streets that limited walkability for residents, especially older adults. To address this, the project added murals to bus shelters and a crosswalk, built a community garden and hosted a dinner where attendees voted on mural designs. Volunteers expanded the garden and engaged older adults in shaping public space. These efforts sparked new partnerships and funding for future improvements like street trees and additional gardens. As one volunteer said, "We're not only growing food, we're growing community," underscoring the project's role in fostering connection and livability.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Patients and visitors at a new outpatient tower lacked a welcoming space. Art with a Heart installed a 245-square-foot mosaic mural in the main entrance, created through eight workshops with volunteers, many age 50-plus. The mural's stained glass and ceramic pieces reflect community identity and offer comfort. "I am very grateful for the opportunity and the fact that we can always visit the site and re-connect with the whole experience," said one volunteer, underscoring the lasting impact of this collaborative effort.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Charlotte, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Charlotte's Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a popular place for pedestrians, but the path through the Parkwood underpass tunnel was dark and uninviting. Working with local partners, Brand the Moth gave the tunnel new life. The organization commissioned two local artists to design a mural, which volunteers helped install during a community paint day. The new artwork represents Charlotte's people, communities and nature. Residents and visitors can now take a walking tour through the mural. Project organizers say they hope the public art project attracts more people to use the greenway.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Halstead, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The Kansas Learning Center for Health addressed isolation and health disparities by creating a welcoming outdoor space in Halstead. Eight benches and four swings were installed in the community garden, fitness area and shaded historic corner, giving older adults safe places to rest and connect. Volunteers and residents age 50-plus added 20 colorful art pieces to concrete pads, turning the area into a vibrant destination. The project has boosted walkability and social engagement, with one participant noting, "I go walking daily and it has been a blessing to have places to stop and rest."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Wichita, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: In an urban neighborhood with limited access to fresh food, uneven paths and traditional garden beds made it difficult for residents with mobility challenges to take part in community gardening. Older adults and others with injuries or physical limitations were especially affected. Riverside Garden improved access by adding stable walkways, accessible pads and raised garden beds designed for people who need to sit or use wheelchairs, along with ergonomic tools that reduce strain. These changes allowed more residents to garden safely and participate in events at the site. One gardener shared that after ankle, foot and knee injuries made bending painful, the new raised beds allowed her to continue gardening and stay connected to the community. The improvements expanded who could use the space and strengthened the garden's role as a shared, inclusive gathering place.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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