St. Louis, MO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project was part of multi-year efforts to activate transit stations throughout the St. Louis region. Citizens for Modern Transit installed accessible seating, a UV-protective shade and a mural examining local history at the North Hanley Transit Center. Organizers hope the improvements spark economic development by creating a community gathering space and encouraging people to use public transit.

Coamo, PR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project will renovate a shuttered school building to create a community multipurpose room where local nonprofit organizations can host meetings and events.

Omaha, NE

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Organizers with Spark thought an unused parking lot at the head of the North Omaha Trail had potential to be something more. So they set out to turn the site into a seed archive -- a building designed to store seeds for growing vegetables, flowers and other plants. Local artists decorated the new building and project organizers installed seating for the space. The seed archive supports the nearby Healthy Roots community garden, which provides fresh produce to local families. Additionally, the archive represents a win for biodiversity, since many of the seeds stored there will grow into plants native to Nebraska, including pollinator-friendly species.