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Town of Fremont (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Accessibility of amenities
└ Accessibility of amenities
To make Memorial Park more accessible for older adults and residents with disabilities, the Town of Fremont built a ramp from the park's parking lot to the playing fields. Previously, visitors had to navigate a steep dirt path to reach the ballfields. A local Eagle Scout candidate led the project. After the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2020, the Town moved many indoor events to Memorial Park's ballfields, so people could attend safely in the open air and practice the social distancing.
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See More Projects Like This One
Victor, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: To help residents with mobility challenges access its facilities, the Valley of the Tetons Library received new stairs and an outdoor gathering area. Organizers replaced the old, uneven stairs with a new staircase featuring steps that are a uniform size and shape, a larger landing and safety railings. Additionally, library staff poured a concrete patio and added benches and planters outside the library's entrance. This created an outdoor area where library patrons can access free Wi-Fi, even when the library is closed for the day. "We provide a lot more things than books," program specialist Rasheil Stranger said.
Long Island, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Older residents on Long Island faced isolation as mobility challenges kept them from beaches, a cornerstone of community life. The council purchased and assembled a beach wheelchair, promoted its availability and trained volunteers to manage its use. This simple addition restored access to gatherings and natural spaces, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy the shoreline safely. One older resident who had stopped visiting her favorite beach can now return, and a child's wish for her grandmother to attend a beach birthday party was fulfilled.
Bowman, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Older residents loved visiting the local theater but struggled to hear movies and community events due to outdated sound equipment. To restore access, the theater installed a new audio system with column speakers, microphones and an RF listening system offering individual devices for those with hearing loss. Volunteers helped with installation, and the upgrades immediately drew praise from older adults who can now enjoy films and presentations again. The project revived a cherished community space and will inspire similar improvements at other venues.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Derry, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To encourage community bonding and intergenerational connections, the Marion Gerrish Community Center created an outdoor space for people to play games. The Center chose large games -- including cornhole, bocce, Jenga, Connect Four, Yardzee, Farkel, chess and checkers -- that would be easy to play and visible from the street. They made the area designated for the games level, ensuring it would be accessible and safe. The Center offers weekly times for older adults to play cornhole and bocce. Community members can sign out the games for use on the property and the Center also loans them out for local events, including Derry Fest, the Derry Farmers Market and the local police departments' National Nite Out.
Merrimac, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Older adult volunteers will conduct a bike audit focused on areas they frequent. The audit will assess the condition of sidewalks and paths and inform efforts to implement an e-bike program.
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