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Toa Baja, PR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will transform an underutilized area into a vibrant gathering spot with murals, solar LED lights, shade sails, and concrete planters.
Mobile, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Organizers with Via Health, Fitness and Enrichment Center envisioned a community green space where Mobile residents of all ages can interact. This project added two gazebos to the space, providing visitors with shade. Project organizers also installed a bike rack and dog watering station onsite and volunteers constructed a raised garden bed for growing flowers, herbs and vegetables. Since the transformation, Midtown Meets has become a meetup spot for local walking and biking clubs, a space for college students to take study breaks and a place for older adults to socialize. In addition, a new volunteer group, called Midtown Neighbors, continues to meet to work in the community garden beds.
Woodbury, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A vacant parking lot in downtown Woodbury offered no safe or inviting space for residents to gather. The FAF transformed it into LOT 323, a pop-up park with seating, shade, lighting and ADA-accessible features. The space hosted concerts, wellness events and live mural painting, drawing thousands and boosting volunteer engagement among older adults. "These events made me want to get involved," said one resident. The city has committed to continuing LOT 323 while plans for redevelopment move forward.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Central Falls, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Central Falls has little green space and faces heat and health challenges, leaving older adults without safe outdoor areas. The project revitalized Phillips Street Park with raised garden beds, a paved patio, shade structure and seating, including chess tables and benches. A musical play feature was added for children, creating a multigenerational space for gardening, learning and socializing. One 50-plus neighbor said that she thought this park and the project itself was exactly what Central Falls needed, reflecting strong community support.
Central Falls, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: To allow for more community events in Veterans Memorial Park, the City of Central Falls purchased two canopies to shade visitors from the sun. The City then set up the all-weather canopies at a series of events held in the park, including a picnic, Zumba gatherings and ice cream socials. Project organizers say the canopies will allow them to expand outdoor programming aimed at older adult residents.
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