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Opelika Main Street (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Organizers with Opelika Main Street hoped to draw more visitors downtown. To do this, they activated an underused public space by adding outdoor games. Volunteers installed a giant, colorful chess and checkers set, suitable for people of all ages to enjoy. Organizers say the new game center represents a safe place for residents of all ages to gather.
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Wheeling, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
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Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Salem, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Older adults and residents with mobility challenges in Salem lacked inclusive outdoor spaces for gardening and social engagement. The project created an accessible garden with ADA-compliant benches, raised beds and pathways, and hosted a groundbreaking event to introduce multigenerational gardening. The space now supports outdoor classes and community gatherings that alleviate isolation and foster connections. "As I've seen the garden space since the groundbreaking event, it looks more like a community gathering space than the area did prior to the updates," said a participant.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
San Diego, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project helped transform a vacant lot in San Diego's City Heights neighborhood into a vibrant gathering space for residents of all ages. To encourage community members of the dense, diverse neighborhood to connect with each other, the Community Development Corporation installed art at the new public space. Since this activation, the space continues to provide a spot for artists to display their work. Project organizers say although the installation was intended to be temporary, it reinforced the value of creating similar community spaces in the future.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Camp Hill, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Camp Hill residents lacked access to fresh produce and safe spaces for exercise, leaving many older adults in a food desert. The foundation responded by building raised beds for a fall garden, installing fencing and creating a one-mile asphalt walking path. Volunteers planted greens that fed more than 200 people and added signage to make the space inviting. The project now serves as a permanent resource for healthy living and sparked plans for composting, marketing produce and adding a hoop house for year-round growing.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
LaGrange, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options
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Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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