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Willcox Theater and Arts Inc. (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
Despite years of neglect, the Heritage Courtyard represents a beloved and beautiful part of Willcox's downtown. To make the space more welcoming to residents of all ages, Willcox Theater and Arts -- whose building is adjacent to the courtyard -- installed benches, bulletin boards and planters. Additionally, a local craftsman constructed a new gateway for the space, which is coated in copper to pay homage to Arizona's mining history. The courtyard contributes to downtown walkability and is first project in the town's Downtown Revitalization Plan, paving the way for future community improvements. The City plans to use the park for special events, exhibits and storytelling activities.
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Evanston, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To bring vibrancy to Evanston's downtown, Evanston's Main Street program installed a unique, new seating option. This project added swing tables, which consist of a picnic table with bench seating on one side and swings on the other. Each table also accommodates people who use wheelchairs, who can roll up to either end of the table. To make the seating more comfortable, Main Street equipped each table with shade sails and solar lights. Additionally, the program engaged volunteers to paint pavement murals in the central business district's street crossings. The public art serves a dual purpose -- the murals add color to the streetscape and make crosswalks more noticeable to passing drivers. This calms traffic and increases pedestrian safety.
Woodbury, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The grant will support LOT 323, a creative placemaking pop-up park that features music and arts and crafts events for residents aged 50 by partnering with senior housing and senior centers, as well as assisted living facilities.
Vallejo, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will transform a neglected alleyway into a lively gathering space for residents of all ages. Volunteers will add temporary amenities to the space, which will support more permanent investment into Vallejo's downtown revitalization.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Aguila, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The Aguila Community Center in rural Aguila is a community hub for residents of all ages, despite its aging infrastructure, leaky roof and signs of wear and tear. To make the facility useable during the monsoon season, leaders at the center fixed the concrete floor with laminate plank flooring and weatherized the roof to make the facility fully functional. Since the improvements, the Aguila Community Center has hosted COVID-19 vaccine clinics, fitness classes, quincenearas and other community celebrations and events during all months of the year.
Camp Verde, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project aimed to make Heritage Pool more inviting and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The City of Campe Verde added hard-surface area onsite, with shade structures to protect visitors from the sun's rays. They also picnic tables and launched recreational programming onsite, including exercise and Aqua Zumba classes.
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