Fargo, ND

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: ADA accessible raised garden beds will be installed at a local park so older adults and people with mobility challenges can participate in gardening. The project encourages visitors to be more involved in caring for the garden.

Chicago, IL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The El Paseo Community Garden in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood added a new gathering space, dubbed El Convivio or The Gathering. The goal of the project was to make the garden more accessible to Latino older adults living in nearby apartment buildings. Improvements to the space include an outdoor kitchen and patio with a fire pit, ADA-compliant seating, walking paths and an accessible planting station. Planters at the site were specifically designed to grow culturally relevant produce, including tomatoes, peppers, garlic and onions. The picnic area's stucco and ceramic tiles mimic designs seen in Mexican haciendas. Garden leaders partnered with nonprofit architectural firm Human Scale to involve garden members in the space's design and volunteers from the neighborhood installed the new amenities. As El Paseo's leadership finalized El Convivio, they also worked with the City of Chicago to secured additional land to expand the garden.

Ele'ele, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: An accessible community garden will be created with raised beds, shaded seating and wide pathways. The space will allow residents to garden safely and spend time together outdoors.