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Oakland Area Chamber of Commerce (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Oakland's center for older adults sat in an uninviting area with few options for outdoor activity. To change that, the Chamber converted a vacant slab into the town's first pickleball court and added a pocket park with benches, shade and lockers for equipment. Volunteers helped install fencing and signage, and lighting is underway to improve safety. The court has become a hub for social connection and exercise, especially for older adults living nearby. As one resident said, "I had never heard of pickleball. I can't wait to learn how to play."
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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Bronx, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Fordham University's Center for Community Engaged Learning transformed a vacant lot in Highbridge into a weekly farmers market, tackling limited access to fresh food and services for older adults. The market offered locally grown produce, cooking demonstrations and resource tables, with seating added for comfort. It accepted multiple payment options, including assistance programs, and fostered intergenerational connections. During cooking demos, participants shared recipes and memories, with one noting the exchange "was a beautiful way to build community."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nashville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To help older adults age in place in their community, Rebuilding Together Nashville made improvements to three community spaces in the Bordeaux neighborhood. The nonprofit gathered feedback from residents to choose which spaces to update. At FiftyForward Bordeaux -- a senior center -- volunteers installed a shade structure, allowing visitors to comfortably gather outdoors. They also added a shed onsite and updated the center's interior, including painting and installing shelving. The Infinity Center is an after-school center that hosts children's theater and community classes. There, volunteers replaced windows, sealed water leaks and repaired a dilapidated deck. Finally, they helped Brooklyn Heights Community Garden transition from a group of raised beds to a full-scale urban farm. Volunteers demolished and moved old garden beds and prepared the site for a new pack and wash station, greenhouse and production garden.
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: 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.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Greenwood, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Unsafe sidewalks and speeding traffic made walking hazardous for older adults in Greenwood. The project trained participants to use the MAPS-Mini audit tool, conduct walk audits and join community meetings to push for repairs and safer crossings. These efforts sparked advocacy for walkable neighborhoods and healthier lifestyles. One resident shared that previously she had to walk close to the curb, which created a dangerous path for her. Her story highlighted the need for change.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Winona, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Central Mississippi Inc. tackled the lack of reliable rides that left many older adults in rural areas missing care, struggling with groceries and losing control over daily schedules. The project provided on-demand trips for people age 50-plus, easing financial strain and helping riders reach medical appointments and stores without relying on others. Three community events built social connection, and volunteers spread the word about available services. One participant receiving cancer treatment described feeling supported throughout a full-day outing. The effort spurred resident interest and encouraged officials to explore sustaining shared transportation.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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