Grants, NM

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: City Hall Park had limited seating and accessibility, which discouraged older adults from using a central public space. This project addressed these barriers by upgrading the park with new benches, picnic tables, planter boxes and refreshed landscaping. Older residents helped guide priorities through planning conversations and took part in cleanup and beautification days. The improvements made the park easier to navigate and more comfortable for rest and casual gatherings. Resident involvement also built a sense of ownership and pride, supporting ongoing care of the space. Together, these changes helped restore the park as a place older adults can regularly use to relax, connect with neighbors and spend time outdoors.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Yankton, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: To invite young children and their caregivers to explore Westside Park, the City of Yankton Department of Parks and Recreation created its Born Learning Trail. The City installed a concrete trail in the park and installed signs in English and Spanish along the path. Each sign features activities meant to build language and thinking skills fundamental to child development. To give families a place to rest, project organizers installed picnic tables and benches. The City also commissioned seven local artists to decorate the trail's pavement with artwork related to the activities.

Holy Cross, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: In a very rural community with no nearby recreation options, many older adults lacked a free, low-impact way to stay active without traveling long distances. The Committee led a volunteer-driven renovation of an aging tennis court and added accessible pickleball courts with seating. Residents worked side by side to complete the project, turning construction days into a shared community effort. The courts were used daily once completed, with volunteers seeing grandparents playing pickleball with grandchildren and visitors being directed to the courts by family members. By creating a no-cost activity close to home, the project encouraged regular movement, strengthened social ties and reestablished the park as a central gathering place older adults can rely on.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.