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Seattle Metro Pickleball Association (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Park enhancements
└ Park enhancements
Pickleball's surge in Seattle left many lined courts without nets, limiting access for older adults who relied on the sport for fitness and social connection. To address this, the association installed five semi-permanent nets at three sites, including lighted courts for evening play, and organized free clinics for beginners and women-only sessions. These efforts transformed neglected spaces into active hubs, prompting community funding to add more nets and complete two major centers. Today, residents enjoy year-round play and multigenerational gatherings. As one participant shared, "The laughter and smiles brought from engaging pickleball in safe communities was heartwarming."
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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Windham, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Residents in Windham lacked safe, walkable spaces, making it hard for older adults to access public areas. To address this, the department upgraded a community park by adding a stone dust surface under a picnic pavilion, installing three ADA-compliant tables and building a 62-foot path to the parking lot. Volunteers age 50-plus helped with installation and joined the opening celebration. The pavilion now offers a shaded, accessible spot for socializing and watching park activities, supporting physical and emotional health for older adults. It also advances Age Friendly Windham's plan to improve public spaces and lays groundwork for a future GRACE Trail to encourage intergenerational recreation.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Eliot, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: To create a more accessible space for all ages, the Eliot Aging in Place Committee installed five benches on the Eliot Boat Basin, located on the banks of the Piscataqua River. The project was a community effort -- volunteers assembled the benches and transported them to their permanent locations. A key goal was to increase walkability and improve health and quality of life for residents. To achieve that, the Aging in Place Committee chose the bench design specifically with older adults' comfort in mind. Project organizers hope the benches -- placed along the waterfront and near a playground -- give visitors a place to rest, allowing them to enjoy walks in the park. Following their installation, the Committee secured funding for additional benches for the town's library.
Edgemont, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: An abandoned tennis court in the town's only park left older adults with few options for daily physical activity. Volunteers transformed the space into two regulation pickleball courts by resurfacing and painting the area. They also installed posts and nets near the local adult center to have easy equipment access. The courts now offer low-impact exercise and social interaction, helping reduce isolation and health risks. Daily use reports and plans for tournaments signal lasting benefits for residents and visitors, who have expressed excitement that these courts are now available.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Seattle, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: Latino workers in Seattle faced barriers to digital access, leaving older adults isolated and unable to manage daily tasks. Casa Latina distributed 36 hotspots and 20 laptops, offered 64 bilingual classes and over 50 one-on-one sessions to build confidence and skills. The program helped participants connect with loved ones, access telehealth and pursue education. One member used her new laptop to complete a business course and launch a catering business, showing how digital literacy can transform lives.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Memphis, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: The Works Inc. set out to improve walking conditions in South Memphis, where unclear construction messaging and unsafe crossings made it difficult for residents, including older adults, to navigate routes to Renaissance Pocket Park. The group led a walk audit and produced a findings report, partnering with Innovate Memphis to shape future audits and strengthen communication with city engineers. During the audit, participants learned how new bump outs, upgraded lights and multisensory pedestrian signals would support safer walking, easing concerns about construction. The project strengthened ties with Innovate Memphis and opened direct communication with City of Memphis Engineering, prompting plans for additional audits in South and North Memphis. A participant story about a confusing intersection highlighted how better information helped residents understand the long-term safety benefits of the upgrades.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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