Tulsa, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: In North Tulsa, where grocery stores are miles away, older adults face tough choices between healthy food and essentials. The project expanded community gardens with raised beds and seating for easier access, plus a Monarch Waystation to support pollinators. Gardens produced fresh vegetables for residents and food festivals serving hundreds of households. The improvements strengthened intergenerational ties and inspired plans for day care partnerships. As one volunteer shared, gardening "helps with PTSD and allows me to get outside when I normally would stay in my house," showing the projects impact beyond nutrition.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Urbana, IL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The City of Urbana wanted to ensure its community gardens included accessibility features, allowing people of all ages to use them. The city's Arts and Culture Program conducted a needs assessment of five gardens through the Growing Community Initiative. The assessment identified needed upgrades to ensure accessibility, such as shade, accessible seating, tool availability and public safety interventions. They then installed shade sails, tool lending libraries and ADA-compliant benches. Additionally, organizers partnered with local artists to hold a workshop to create peace poles. The public art pieces are now on display in one of Urbana's gardens, located a neighborhood that had been impacted by gun violence.

Tucson, AZ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The Blue Moon Community Garden in Tucson is located next a 17-story apartment building with hundreds of residents, many of whom are older adults. However, the garden lacked shade and amenities, including public bathrooms and benches, which discouraged potential volunteers. Community Gardens of Tucson, which manages twenty gardens across the city, installed tables, benches and pop-up shade structures. They also built raised garden beds, improved pathways and added a compostable toilet onsite. The improvements allow garden to offer more diverse programming for community members, which has led to more volunteer engagement.