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Omaha, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: To activate a city-owned vacant lot in North Omaha, the City of Omaha installed accessible planters -- built by a local community gardening organization -- that accommodate gardening from a standing or sitting position. A local artist worked with local elementary school children, helping them create murals depicting their aspirations. In addition, the project included a community chalk wall, where residents can leave inspiring messages. To improve a nearby bus stop, the City purchased installed benches. The art and new outdoor furnishings were in pace in time for a fall festival at the site, which organizers hope will occur annually.
Urbana, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The City of Urbana wanted to ensure its community gardens included accessibility features, allowing people of all ages to use them. The city's Arts and Culture Program conducted a needs assessment of five gardens through the Growing Community Initiative. The assessment identified needed upgrades to ensure accessibility, such as shade, accessible seating, tool availability and public safety interventions. They then installed shade sails, tool lending libraries and ADA-compliant benches. Additionally, organizers partnered with local artists to hold a workshop to create peace poles. The public art pieces are now on display in one of Urbana's gardens, located a neighborhood that had been impacted by gun violence.
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Blue Moon Community Garden in Tucson is located next a 17-story apartment building with hundreds of residents, many of whom are older adults. However, the garden lacked shade and amenities, including public bathrooms and benches, which discouraged potential volunteers. Community Gardens of Tucson, which manages twenty gardens across the city, installed tables, benches and pop-up shade structures. They also built raised garden beds, improved pathways and added a compostable toilet onsite. The improvements allow garden to offer more diverse programming for community members, which has led to more volunteer engagement.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Newport, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: Since the area's mills and industrial plants shut down, Newport's economy has struggled to recover. To attract visitors, the Town of Newport is working to rebrand itself Newport as a recreational destination for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and other outdoor activities. To support these efforts, the Town installed directional signs and kiosks on its trail system. The new amenities help visitors navigate and provide information about local activities. Organizers say the wayfinding improvements made the trail system more accommodating to an influx of visitors seeking out safe, outdoor recreation during COVID-19 pandemic.
Claremont, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: The Claremont Opera House will upgrade its obsolete assisted listening devices so that patrons with hearing challenges can fully appreciate the music, theater, movie and lecture events on stage.
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