AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
See More Projects Like This One
North Conway, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: Older adults in the rural North Conway community often faced isolation and limited access to programs that support healthy eating and social connection, especially for those living alone or on fixed incomes. Pope Memorial Library addressed this gap by building a fully functioning kitchen within its meeting space, allowing food-centered programs to take place on site rather than relying on meals prepared elsewhere. The kitchen supported nutrition education, shared meals and hands-on cooking classes that lowered barriers to participation. By cooking and eating together, older adults built routines around gathering and learning, not just attending events. Anchoring these programs in a permanent, accessible space strengthened the library's role as a reliable place for belonging and positioned it to sustain wellness programming that keeps older adults engaged over time.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Columbus, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: A community center will be upgraded to create a more comfortable and accessible gathering place for local residents, especially older adults.
Duluth, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: This project engaged teams of participants to design solutions that will make the city more age-friendly, with a focus on areas such as housing, transportation and more.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Chappell, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Chappell Lakes aging facilities made visits less safe and enjoyable for older adults. The city upgraded bathrooms with automatic fixtures, replaced rotted poles, added solar lights for night fishing and installed durable picnic tables under shelters. Volunteers pitched in to paint and assemble items. These improvements created a cleaner, safer space for daily recreation and gatherings. One resident mentioned how peaceful it is now to sit out and enjoy the night and enjoy time with neighbors.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Imperial, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A vacant lot in the heart of Imperial's downtown had been an eyesore for decades. To put the space to better use, the City of Imperial activated the space, creating a new pocket park. Volunteers helped create several murals onsite and installed a mosaic dragon sculpture, designed to double as a play structure for children. Using upcycled existing picnic tables and railroad ties, they also created a circular seating area, dubbed the chatroom. Local elementary school students and residents of an assisted living facility teamed up to paint tiles to decorate outdoor sectional couch. And volunteers laid down artificial turf -- a material chosen to make the mini-park easy to maintain. Raised flower beds completed the space. Since the mini-park's completion, organizers say community members continue to brainstorm ways to improve the pocket park, which they say has revitalized Imperial's arts scene.
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 Colorado State Office
303 E. 17th Avenue
Suite 510
Denver, CO 80203
United States