Youngstown, OH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project activated a vacant space in Youngstown, converting it into a pocket park. Volunteers equipped the mini-park with benches, porch-type swings, a flagpole and picnic tables.

Monroeville, AL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Organizers with Monroeville's Main Street initiative hoped to draw residents to the city's historic downtown district. To give people a reason to gather outdoors, they added wheelchair-accessible game tables and seating in several locations, including the grounds of the Monroe County Museum, two parks, the local YMCA and a senior center. The organization also purchased checkers and chess game pieces, which are available to visitors to check out. Part of a larger campaign to decrease littering and encourage community pride, organizers also installed trash cans downtown. And to increase facetime with constituents, the newly elected mayor also called on residents to challenge him to a game of chess or checkers. Organizers say the placemaking project is meant to unite the community by giving people a place to connect with each other.

Oakland, MS

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project will improve the area around a senior center by adding a decorative mural, building a pickleball court and adding a pocket park with benches and raised flower beds.