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North Hero Public Library (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
In a rural town where isolation is common among older adults, the library created an outdoor space to foster connection and creativity. It installed a circular word garden with etched stones and ADA-compliant benches, complemented by raised beds. A kickoff event drew residents to arrange words into poems and phrases. The garden is now a permanent feature that brings grandparents and grandchildren together. As one visitor said, "My niece didn't even want to come to the library, but after playing with the word garden, she doesn't want to leave."
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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Binghamton, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To improve the walkability and aesthetics of an industrial neighborhood in Binghamton, the Center for Technology and Innovation installed a 300-square-foot topographical map mural. Displayed along Wall Street, the artwork depicts a stretch of New York State from Cooperstown to Lake Erie. Organizers say the map aims to enliven pedestrian-friendly block connecting Northside residential neighborhood to downtown shopping areas and a regional transportation hub. The three-dimensional map, prepared with the help of the U.S. Geological Survey, is titled Here in the Heart of New York.
Matthews, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Crestdale, an historic community in Matthews, lacked public art and safe pedestrian connections. A section of the Matthews Heritage Trail ran along a road without sidewalks, creating safety concerns and limiting trail continuity. To address this, the town installed a colorful mural on the advisory shoulder to mark the trail and improve visibility. Residents joined a community event to help paint the mural, and plans include adding a bench for resting along the route. The mural makes the trail easier to navigate, draws attention to Crestdale's history and encourages more people to explore the area.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Dodge City, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: This project created murals in the downtown district reflecting the area's history and diversity.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Swanton, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: As part of efforts to redevelop its downtown, the Village of Swanton has worked to makes streets more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. To build community support, the Village staged a one-day traffic calming demonstration. Using hay bales and planters, the community created a barrier to separate the village's parking area from travel lanes, which successfully slowed down vehicle traffic. They also created bump-outs to shorten the distance needed to cross the street and make pedestrians more visible to passing drivers. During the pop-up, residents had the opportunity to make suggestions for long-term streetscape improvements. Following the demonstration, the Village planted trees along busy streets as a traffic calming measure. The Village also established a task force to look at other opportunities for future demonstration projects to test street infrastructure improvements.
Plattsburgh, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: The Coast addressed social isolation among older adults and people with disabilities who had limited ways to enjoy time outdoors. Many participants could no longer ride a bicycle or easily access trails, shrinking opportunities for connection. The program provided free trishaw rides with trained volunteer pilots, allowing riders to travel local paths safely while facing forward and engaging with their surroundings. In one case, a pilot shared that a woman in assisted living who rarely spoke became "especially chatty" after rides, eagerly telling others how much she loved being outdoors. In another, a rider relived family history while traveling alongside railroad tracks where her relatives once worked. The program delivered hundreds of rides and deepened partnerships with care facilities, laying a foundation to reach even more riders as the program expands.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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