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Tri County Community Action Mission (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Vacant lots in Harrisburg's Allison Hill neighborhood -- which make up about a third of the neighborhood's land area -- were overgrown with weeds and debris, attracted crime and often served as illegal dumping sites. To address this, the Tri County Community Organization set out to clean up eight lots. Volunteers cleared the sites of debris, installed fencing and planted low-maintenance grass that only grows to six inches in height. "This project opens up the space so that there's no place to hide for crime, so this project really helps to bring beauty to the neighborhood," Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator Donnell Brown said. Now that the lots are cleaned up, project organizers hope the spaces will help raise property values, as well as provide residents with a gathering space.
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Avoca, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Avoca's Main Street already had green space and places to sit, but Avoca Public Library organizers wanted to give residents a reason to spend time downtown. To invite people in, they installed oversized, weather-proof musical instruments outside the library. Since the instruments don't require any training or talent to play, they are popular with residents of all ages. Part of the town's creative placemaking plans, the new music park is located near the site of Avoca's weekly summer farmer's market. "It's a fun part of the town now," Avoca resident Sunshine Schoeller said.
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Older adults in Walton County had few options for outdoor recreation and social connection. To address this, the county transformed a library courtyard into a gaming garden with a ping-pong table, chess table and corn hole set. These additions created a welcoming space for residents to gather and stay active. The project introduced a new venue for multigenerational interaction and prompted plans for future upgrades, including walkways to improve accessibility.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Gooding, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The Gooding Public Library Foundation converted an unused area of West Park into a community commons. Located near Gooding's library, city hall and police station, the site now features accessible picnic tables, shade canopies and lidded trash cans. The library now uses the site for a variety of activities, including story time and science experiments. Library patrons, workers on lunch break and other community members also gather in the space. The library now plans to install a little free library in the park.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Camp Hill, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: This Foundation sought to reduce barriers that kept older adults and people with disabilities from enjoying outdoor recreation, including transportation challenges, limited access to equipment and uncertainty about how to participate. The project created educational materials, trained volunteers, offered skill-building sessions and launched gear-lending libraries so residents could try activities without cost. Partnerships with local community centers helped provide transportation to parks and forests. These efforts increased participation and built confidence among older adults, while volunteers and partners learned how to support inclusive recreation. One participant noted that barrier-removal training sparked practical ideas that made nature feel more accessible.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Millersburg, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Gardeners faced a cumbersome irrigation setup that required long walks and manual water activation, making maintenance difficult for older adults. The borough installed a permanent underground water line and yard hydrant near the garden entrance, replacing a temporary hose system. This upgrade simplified watering and boosted accessibility. The garden now produces thousands of pounds of organic food for local distribution, and participants anticipate expanded use for therapeutic gardening. One gardener said, "Watering is SO much easier now" and noted how lack of water pressure had made garden upkeep difficult prior to the project.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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