Randolph, VT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: To give residents the opportunity to express themselves and connect with each other, Sunrise Rotary Club installed outdoor musical instruments near the town's recreational field. The new Harmony Park features chimes, drums, a xylophone, Imbarimbas and a harp. The Club also added benches to the space, along with a welcome sign informing visitors about the instruments.

Dallas, TX

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: As part of renovations to make the West Dallas Multipurpose Center accessible for people of all ages and abilities, the City of Dallas set out to improve a walking path on the center's grounds. A key goal: give older adults opportunities to exercise and spend time with their grandchildren. To achieve this, the city installed five ADA-compliant benches along the path, which runs alongside a playground. Project organizers say the benches increase walkability at the center, which offers Dallas residents social services, child care and other resources. The benches give visitors a place to rest as they stroll the walking path or supervise children as they play.

Harlan, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Harlan library staff wanted to encourage families with children to explore Pioneer Park. To draw people in, they created a Story Walk. The library purchased twenty displays to house pages of a storybook, which they placed along the park's walking path. With their grandparents and parents by their side, kids enjoy running from sign to sign to reach the next part of the story. To keep the experience fresh, library employees swap out new stories seasonally.