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The Senior Connection (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Like many places, Blaine County struggled with community connectedness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. To combat this problem, The Senior Connection created the Wood River Valley Daffodil Festival. Over three autumn days, a multigenerational group of volunteers planted 30,000 daffodil bulbs at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden. As planned, the flowers blossomed during the festival, which took place the following spring. The volunteers included older adults, school classes, landscape companies and other community businesses. The festival -- which features food trucks, live music and garden tours -- is now an annual event.
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See More Projects Like This One
Lafayette, LA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: Outdoor upgrades will add shaded seating, a small garden and a gazebo at a Senior Center. These features will support outdoor programs, casual gatherings and comfortable places to rest, helping neighbors stay active and socially connected.
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.
Julesburg, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: An ADA accessible garden and fitness equipment for older adults will be added to a community center. These features will support physical activity and intergenerational engagement.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Shoshone, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: A new water well will supply drinking fountains, sanitation and a fish cleaning station in the park. Reliable water access will support safe recreation and hydration for older visitors.
Lincoln County, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: When the Lincoln County Youth Center opened in 2021, children would run laps around the building's wide, circular hallway. To allow visitors to exercise, the Lincoln County Youth Commission created an indoor fitness track in the hall. With the track, the Lincoln County Youth Commission hoped to make the Center a welcoming space for residents of all ages. The rural community lacks sidewalks, making walking outdoors difficult for the community's older adults. The Lincoln Loop is ADA-accessible and offers a climate-controlled environment for people to exercise all year round. The path also includes stations where people can perform stretches and warm-up exercises.
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