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Upper Darby Township Community Development (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
A new mural brought renewed activity and improved safety to Upper Darby Township's downtown. Volunteers -- including older adults, artists, students and art teachers -- designed and created the 135-foot mural, which is located in a breezeway connecting a parking lot to retail and entertainment options. Its design incorporates greetings in 60 languages -- reflecting community members' native tongues -- and older adults' input helped ensure its imagery reflected the region's history. Project organizers also added new lighting and seating to the breezeway. Community response has been positive. I really enjoy the walk from the garage to the office building, one local worker said. It is cleaner and well-lit. The colorful mural provides an uplifting view and I believe that it encourages people to care a bit more about the area...There is such diversity in culture here. Going forward, the Township plans to use the site for small pop-up events, such as a Music at the Mural performance.
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See More Projects Like This One
Freeport, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: This project set out to enhance a public space in Freeport, giving residents of all ages an appealing place to gather. Organizers worked to identify a space to install a mural, painted by a local artist.
Rock Springs, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Part of a multiyear effort to bring public art to downtown Rock Springs, this project added a new mural paying tribute to the area's mining and railroad history. The artwork then spurred redevelopment of an adjacent vacant lot, which is now a pocket park with seating, shade structures and landscaping. To help visitors learn about local history, Rock Springs Renewal Fund added interpretive signage for the mural, and for others installed nearby. Ultimately, the project's success inspired the City of Rock Springs to commission three additional murals for the pocket park. Today, the City hosts mural walks through the central business district.
Wilmington, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: During the planning stages for a mural at the 4th Rodney Park, Pastor Lottie Lee-Davis -- a community leader and the project's main partner -- was killed in a car crash. The original goal for the mural was to depict positive imagery for neighborhood children to look up to as they played. After Pastor Lottie's death, organizers used the mural to honor the woman who was a beloved leader and advocate for the 4th Street corridor's residents. Local artists Crae Washington and JaQuanne LeRoy Daniels made Lee-Davis the central figure in the mural, surrounding her with bold colors and words representing career aspirations of the area's children and teens. Since the mural's installation other improvements have come to the park, including new greenery and a bike repair station. Cornerstone West has also worked to implement public art and beautification projects at other nearby parks, including Judy Johnson Park, Cool Spring Park and Tilton Park.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Philadelphia, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public spaces improvements to increase high-speed internet availability
Description: To help older adults access the internet, the Center in the Park created a cafe onsite, which offers free Wi-Fi access to visitors.
Philadelphia, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
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