AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
Rooted in Wyoming (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Veterans at the Sheridan VA struggled to access a therapeutic garden because uneven terrain and heat made gardening unsafe for those with mobility challenges. The project installed more than 500 feet of ADA-compliant concrete paths, raised beds at accessible heights and a retractable shade system. Volunteers and VA staff also hosted workshops and a garden symposium to engage veterans. These upgrades created a fully accessible space that supports physical activity, mental health and food security, ensuring older veterans can garden safely for years to come. One participant, who is a veteran, said that he didn't realize how much he would love gardening, and now has a passion for it.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Imperial Beach, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Imperial Beach lacked accessible spaces for older adults to garden and connect, despite strong community demand. The city converted a 4,500-square-foot lot near its adult center into an intergenerational garden with 18 raised beds and wheelchair-accessible planters. It also added a greenhouse, compost bins, a tool shed and seating areas. More than 150 volunteers, including many age 50 or over, helped build the space and joined planting days and nutrition workshops. The garden now hosts monthly classes on gardening and healthy cooking, offering residents a welcoming place to socialize. They are able to stay active and grow fresh produce-turning a vacant lot into a hub for health and community.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Wichita, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: In an urban neighborhood with limited access to fresh food, uneven paths and traditional garden beds made it difficult for residents with mobility challenges to take part in community gardening. Older adults and others with injuries or physical limitations were especially affected. Riverside Garden improved access by adding stable walkways, accessible pads and raised garden beds designed for people who need to sit or use wheelchairs, along with ergonomic tools that reduce strain. These changes allowed more residents to garden safely and participate in events at the site. One gardener shared that after ankle, foot and knee injuries made bending painful, the new raised beds allowed her to continue gardening and stay connected to the community. The improvements expanded who could use the space and strengthened the garden's role as a shared, inclusive gathering place.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Columbus, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The International Harvest Garden lacked shade and seating, leaving gardeners age 50-plus and families without a comfortable place to rest or gather. The project added a picnic table with side access for mobility aids, a shade trellis and improved walkways for easier navigation. These upgrades will support cultural events and reduce isolation, with volunteers saying the changes will make the garden "a sanctuary as well as a place of growth and education."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Sheridan, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Heritage Towers set out to give older adults a place to grow fresh food and spend time outside, addressing the lack of accessible spaces for residents with limited income and mobility. The team built raised beds, added sturdy outdoor seating and organized planting events that helped tenants grow vegetables, herbs and flowers. The harvest supported shared meals that brought people together and encouraged more time on the patio. Tenants said the garden reminded them of growing food when they were younger, and many began volunteering to start seeds for next year. The project prompted more outdoor activity, strengthened social ties and laid the groundwork for a lasting source of fresh produce and connection for residents.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Sheridan, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Supporting family caregivers
Description: Caregivers in Sheridan often face overwhelming responsibilities without clear guidance. Holy Name addressed this by hosting workshops on topics like legal planning, home health care and end-of-life decisions paired with respite care and shared meals. Volunteers organized sessions featuring expert advice and caregiver stories and provided resource books. "These workshops have been a blessing to me and so many in our community," one participant said. Plans include expanding the model statewide through guidebooks and training.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Wyoming State Office
1800 Carey Ave
Suite 400
Cheyenne, WY 82001
United States