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Phelps County Community Foundation (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
A long-vacant building in downtown Holdrege left residents without a safe, accessible place to gather. To address this, the foundation created the Midtown Sculpture Garden, adding ADA-compliant seating, tables, decorative lighting, trees and a mural of a Nebraska sunset. Older adults joined a community painting day and quickly embraced the space, which now hosts casual visits and will serve as a venue for art festivals and musical events. "I'm feeling almost giddy with happy feelings when I hear and read about and see the sculpture garden. This will improve the...future for Holdrege," wrote one local resident, reflecting the pride and connection the project has sparked.
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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See More Projects Like This One
Beaver Dam, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
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Pikeville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: In a rural community with high poverty and an aging population, cultural isolation limited opportunities for engagement. To address this, Pikeville created an Indigenous History mural depicting the Trail of Tears, supported by a skilled artist and QR-coded videos for deeper learning. The unveiling event brought residents together for a guided tour, sparking dialogue about heritage and resilience. Now a permanent feature downtown, the mural serves as an educational tool and catalyst for similar projects, offering older adults a meaningful way to connect with history and foster unity.
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To increase walkability and create a safe, beautiful gathering space, Avenue CDC engaged a local artist, local schoolchildren and residents to create a 600-foot mural. The wall selected for the artwork was off-putting and had been vandalized many times. But the site also acted as the entry point to the Northline neighborhood, since the wall faces the nearby light rail station. The mural's design pays homage to local Latino culture and the history of the neighborhood. As the mural reached its completion, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and project organizers were able to repurpose leftover grant funds to help with recovery and rebuilding.
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Kearney, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options
Description: To help residents travel around town without driving, Kearney Works engaged drivers to travel along a set route, picking passengers up at strategically located pick-up locations. The organization recruited drivers from the City of Kearney's growing population of recently retired people. Passengers paid a nominal fee to share safe, reliable rides to their places of employment, childcare centers, job interviews and other destinations.
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