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Town of Boligee (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Trails
└ Trails
The rural town of Boligee lacked parks, walking trails and sidewalks. Recently, the Town purchased the former junior high school property and repurposed it into a recreation complex, which hosts classes and community events. To give residents an outdoor gathering space, this project created a new trail and garden onsite. Volunteers cleared a path for the trail and installed brick pavers. They also added raised flowerbeds and benches to give visitors a place to rest and socialize. Additionally, organizers installed a roof over an unused concrete slab, transforming it into a pavilion. The Town now invites older adults to tend to the flowerbeds. Organizers say they hope the trail and garden foster improved community health.
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Kerrville, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Trails
Description: Older adults needed shaded resting areas along Kerrville's River Trail to make walking and exercise more accessible. The city installed benches at key locations and added a shade structure over the fitness court, creating comfortable spaces for rest and socialization. These improvements encouraged community interaction, fostering long-term health benefits and inclusivity. "The addition of benches and the shade structure has truly transformed my outdoor experience," said one resident, noting the park is now a hub for exercise and social connections.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Goshen, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Trails
Description: This project will install benches and informational signage along a new accessible loop trail that provides an experience in nature for people of all ages and abilities.
Hidden Springs, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Trails
Description: Hidden Springs has an extensive network of scenic trails along Dry Creek. But when the ground is wet during winter and spring, the trails become muddy, leading to erosion and sustainability issues. To allow people to use the trails year-round, the Hidden Springs Town Association created an all-weather path. Volunteers laid road mix along four miles of existing trails to connect main roads to the riparian areas, a community farm and agricultural fields. Today, the system welcomes hikers of all ages in all four seasons.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Aliceville, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Access to high-speed internet
Description: Residents relied on an aging computer lab because many homes lacked internet, leaving older adults disconnected from essential services and job opportunities. The library upgraded its lab with 18 new computers, added three circulation desk systems and a laptop for presentations. They also scheduled classes tailored for older adults. The improvements enabled job fairs and streamlined service, while helping patrons gain confidence online. One older adult said she was thrilled to email friends and access social media, a change that strengthened her connection to family and community.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Macon, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Older adults in Macon lacked a central space for civic engagement. To combat this, the historical society repurposed its Welcome Center into a community hub. The project added kitchen appliances and A/V equipment and hosted events like community town halls, workshops and holiday programs. Volunteers supported activities and outreach, helping attract hundreds of residents. As one board member shared, "AARP enabled the Society to broaden its perspective; welcome our entire community; and reach higher in its goals." The center now anchors inclusive gatherings and economic development efforts.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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