Christiansted, VI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Christiansted has few accessible green spaces where older adults can gather, garden and support healthy aging. Mobility barriers and limited transit options have made it harder for residents to reach outdoor places that offer shade, seating and social connection. St. Croix Foundation advanced planning for an intergenerational community garden and wellness space at Sunday Market Square through a community-led design process. Older adults and nearby residents shaped accessibility, planting choices and safety features through focus groups and public engagement. The work produced a preliminary design and secured historic approvals, positioning the project for installation. As one participant noted, visible follow-through showed that feedback was reflected in the plans and "builds trust, speaks volumes." By centering older adults early, the project accelerated a long-standing vision for a green space that can expand access and intergenerational activity.

Christiansted, VI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Trails

Description: The Virgin Islands Trail Alliance and its partners installed the island's first permanent bike path, which extends through Christiansted, an historic town dating back to the 1760s. The Alliance included benches, tables and bike racks along the trail. Work also included applying road stenciling, installing reflectors, markers and lane delineators, planting trees, spreading topsoil and mulch and erecting a historical marker sign. The trail improvements come after a 2017 Walkability Report identified a lack of investment in pedestrian infrastructure in the Virgin Islands. Project organizers say they hope the success of this project highlights the importance of walkability in the Territory. The Alliance is a nonprofit based in St. Croix that aims to create multi-use pathways across the Virgin Islands.