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Jackson, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: As part of efforts to activate a new green space in downtown Jackson, the Jackson Hole Land Trust commissioned local artists to design benches for the space. All three benches meet ADA accessibility standards, with designs that encourage visitors to sit, touch and climb. Project organizers installed the seating ahead of a grand opening celebration for the Greenspace on the Block, a conservation easement that features walking trails and provides an outdoor venue for community activities.
Oxford, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Oxford's historic downtown is home to restaurants, shops, art galleries, historic churches and a first-class performing arts center. Its brick-paved sidewalks are great for strolling, but the area lacked seating options. To address this, Historic Main Street Oxford installed metal benches, as well as two bike racks. This enables Main Street visitors to grab an ice cream cone with a friend and rest comfortably in the shade. The new amenities came during a downtown streetscaping project, which included installing accessible sidewalks, new lighting and improved landscaping.
Lynchburg, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To organizers with the Downtown Lynchburg Association, an underused, dead-end street had potential to draw visitors downtown. The Association transformed the space into Art Alley -- a vibrant, outdoor art gallery. To activate the space, volunteers covered the pavement in turquoise, orange, pink and green paint. They also set up string lights overhead to provide illumination. Finally, they created the Spark Joy Gallery by installing panels that display digital artworks. Project organizers say the placemaking effort has since inspired nearby property owners to spruce up their building facades, and the Art Alley has become a must-see for tourists passing through town.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Grand Rapids, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Public art near a new downtown pedestrian bridge serves to draw in visitors and promote nature, trails and biking along the Mississippi River. Get Fit Itasca and the Itasca County Family YMCA commissioned a local artist to create a canoe sculpture for the site. They also installed two benches and a three-sided map kiosk nearby. The project's success attracted additional funding, which the organizations used to install trail signs, revamp a nearby park and create a storybook walk.
Brainerd, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: A community bike audit will review routes linking neighborhoods, downtown, parks and regional trails in Brainerd. Resident input will help identify realistic improvements that strengthen safe bike connections.
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