AARP Community Challenge 2017 Winning Grantees

AARP Community Challenge 2017 Winning Grantees

AARP Community Challenge 2017 - Winning Grantees About

AARP Community Challenge 2017 Grantees

88 quick-action projects help make communities more livable for people of all ages

For the first-ever , AARP received almost 1,200 applications, resulting in a highly competitive selection process. As a "quick action" grant, the winners were announced on September 7 and given a completion deadline of November 1, 2017. Scroll down to see the list of 88 winning grantees, through which AARP invested nearly $780,000 to create change and improve quality of life for people of all ages in communities across the nation. Each project (several of which are and in the free AARP publication ) delivered on one or all of the following: Improve social connections through the built environment for people of all ages and abilities Expand work, volunteer, educational and/or training opportunities for all residents Drive inclusive community engagement and interaction across a diverse population The list of 2017 grantees is organized by state and then city, followed by the name of the grantee organization. (See a list of some of the .) Three additional projects not listed below but located in ; ; and , received support from AARP and the urban planners of . The Better Block projects, as well as the projects listed below with a [WWL], are featured in the 2018 edition of .

Alabama

Birmingham:
The nonprofit, its partners and stakeholders conducted pop-up demonstration projects to show how improved street safety and traffic flow for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians can be an economic catalyst in the city’s Woodlawn neighborhood and commercial district.

Mobile:
The Center for Family and Community Development installed ramps and raised garden beds so people of all ages and abilities can participate in farm activities.

Alaska

Anchorage:
Grant funds helped involve residents in decisions to improve the built environment and create active transportation options for people of all ages and ability levels.

Arizona

Chino Valley:
The grant was used to install a much-needed ADA-compliant walkway, bench and bus stop shelter. [WWL]

Phoenix:
Funding was provided for the installation of a crosswalk near a busy, six-lane intersection in the city’s Maryvale neighborhood

Arkansas

Fayetteville:
An open house educational event was held to raise awareness among residents and leaders about the importance of lifelong housing options and accessible housing for all.

California

Fontana:
Funding was provided to purchase materials in support of Fontana Walks, an initiative that encourages residents of all ages to walk a collective “2 Billion Steps” (or 1 million miles) in 365 days.

San Diego:
CARR created a board game, called , that's based on the framework (used by the ) and designed to engage older adults in the process of making San Diego a more age-friendly city. The game initiated discussions about what age-friendly meant in terms of community infrastructure.

Santa Cruz:
The grant helped build an ADA-compliant accessory dwelling unit (ADU) as part of a program that enables older homeowners to age in place. [WWL]
West Sacramento:
The grant money was used to improve pedestrian safety by adjusting signal timing and installing pedestrian-controlled crosswalk buttons near a housing development occupied by older adults. [WWL]

Colorado

Colorado Springs:
Funds were provided for an Intergenerational Walk to School Day event to spur community engagement and interaction among residents of all ages

Wheat Ridge: Localworks
By showcasing the work of the Activate 38 Coalition through a neighborhood event, the community learned about safe, nonmotorized ways to navigate the 38th Avenue corridor, which is a downtown Main Street-type destination. [WWL]

Connecticut

Hartford:
Staff and volunteers rebuilt the Broad Street Community Garden’s raised beds so the planters could be used by children, older adults and people with disabilities. [WWL]

Delaware

Dover:
Grant funds financed signage along walking paths to promote the reopening of a long-closed trail.

District of Columbia

Washington, D.C.:
This intergenerational project brought together older adults and millennials to create a new public space for people of all ages.

Florida

Cutler Bay:
Accessible fitness equipment was purchased and installed under a shade canopy in a park that hosts activities for older adults. [WWL]

Fort Myers:
Grant monies were used to host a fun, educational Open Streets demonstration event in a low-income neighborhood that has little infrastructure, high bicycle dependency and high crash rates.

St. Petersburg:
On an October Sunday in 2017, Central Avenue was closed to cars and opened to fun for an Open Streets event

Georgia

Macon:
Outdoor chess/checkers tables and a Connect Four game were purchased and installed on the grounds of a planned community center. [WWL] and

Union City:
Funds helped the nonprofit’s Senior Wellness Program create ways for residents to engage in fitness activities.

Hawaii

Honolulu:
The grant supported a public awareness campaign to educate businesses and other organizations on how to better serve older adults. [WWL]

Honolulu:
Grant funds helped educate young people about the importance of age-friendly cities through an interactive exhibit at the Children and Youth Day events held at the Hawaii State Capitol.

Idaho

Boise/Kuna:
On October 21, 2017, the Bernie Fisher Parking Lot in downtown Kuna was transformed into a pop-up plaza project that demonstrated the benefits of public gathering places. [WWL]

Illinois

Batavia:
A one-day event educated residents about mobility from different perspectives, including walking, bicycling, pushing a stroller and traveling in a wheelchair.

Wilmette:
Volunteers and advocates demonstrated active transportation options and infrastructure by using Go Green’s “pop-up supplies” tool kit. [WWL]

Indiana

Kokomo:
More than a dozen wayfinding signs were created and installed along the City-Line Trolley route and the Walk of Excellence Trail.

Iowa

Carlisle:
To help create a more walkable and attractive community, the city installed 10 benches, 10 planters, eight bicycle racks and 20 banner-sign mounts for its trails and downtown.

Kansas

Wichita:
Walk Wichita participated in Wichita’s Open Streets event in September 2017 by launching three walking tours through the PocketSights app. The tours were accessible and navigable for people with varying degrees of mobility. [WWL]

Kentucky

Bowling Green: WKU Aging Center for Gerontology
Funds were granted to develop a mural by alumni of the Over Fifty Academy (a leadership group within the Age-Friendly Bowling Green effort) and Companions of Respected Elders, a student group at Western Kentucky University.

Lexington:
ADA-accessible benches were placed in a U-shaped, conversation-friendly configuration in Idle Hour Park.

Louisiana

New Orleans:
The construction of a footbridge and walking path connected this community fitness park to the Lafitte Greenway, an active rails-to-trails pedestrian path. In addition, FitLot coaches provided more than 36 hours of free fitness coaching to older people from a community that suffers from one of the largest health disparity gaps in the nation. [WWL]

Maine

Bethel:
The grant was used to construct a display and kit featuring tools and household accessories that can make a home safer and help prevent falls.

Bowdoinham: Advisory Committee on Aging
Raised planters were constructed for residents who had stopped gardening because they were unable to keep a traditional, in-the-ground garden. [WWL]

North Yarmouth:
The department installed Knox Home Box key safes outside the homes of older residents so first responders can access a key or code for rapid entry into the home in case of an emergency. [WWL]

Wayne:
Two flashing traffic signs and two “Stop for Pedestrians” signs were purchased and installed along a busy roadway. [WWL]

Maryland

Baltimore:
As part of a long-term infrastructure improvement project, a pop-up demonstration park event was held at an intersection in need of safety enhancements. [WWL]

Massachusetts

Natick:
The council developed and promoted changes to address the specific mobility, recreational and logistical needs of older adults so they could use local off-road trails. [WWL]

Stoneham:
Grant funds were used to build an intergenerational community garden.

Michigan

Bessemer:
Artistic bicycle stands were installed to provide secure bike parking and encourage people to pedal rather than drive

Wayne:
An underutilized alleyway owned by the city was transformed into a gathering and event space. and

Minnesota

St. Paul:
The city made crosswalks more visible to roadway users by adding art and creative features and installed, for demonstration purposes, temporary pedestrian safety elements to improve walkability.

St. Paul: District 6 Planning Council
Permanent message centers, used to display multilingual community and events information, were installed along the Rice Street corridor in the North End

Mississippi

Gulfport:
The grant was used to create Bark Park on an acre of property at the new Brickyard Bayou Park, which is located in a part of the city that was devastated during Hurricane Katrina. [WWL]

Missouri

St. Louis:
Pop-up demonstrations were used to build support for the development of improved public transit.

Montana

Bozeman: and
A mobile tool kit for pop-up projects was created to showcase how temporary demonstrations can help improve streets for travel by foot, bicycle, bus, wheelchair and other means. [WWL]

Deer Lodge: Powell County Parks
Grant funds were used to connect the commercial district that includes the Deer Lodge Medical Center with parks and residential neighborhoods.

Missoula:
The funding was used to show how pedestrian-oriented infrastructure improves public safety, creates a sense of place and provides opportunities for people to gather and interact

Nebraska

Hebron:
The grant was used for wayfinding signage to improve walkability and create places for residents to socialize and appreciate the area’s historical locations.

Kearney:
Independent, contracted drivers recruited from Kearney’s “robust population of recently-retired older adults“ traveled along a set route with strategically located passenger pick-up sites. For a nominal fee, passengers were able to share safe, reliable rides to employment, child care, job interviews and other destinations

Nevada

Las Vegas:
A web-based community network was developed to facilitate communication and provide important resources to Nevadans affected by dementia.

New Hampshire

Conway:
The coalition partnered with The Gibson Center for Senior Services and others to educate homeowners about accessory dwelling units and the state’s 2017 law allowing them.

New Jersey

Garfield:
The initiative Generations for Garfield implemented pop-up wellness-center events at its local VFW post to provide programming in a centrally located, multigenerational space.

Jersey City:
Older adults from Marion Gardens, a public housing site with more than 600 residents, assisted in planting trees to beautify underutilized outdoor spaces and encourage green infrastructure. [WWL]

New Mexico

Truth or Consequences:
Grant funds were used to improve the walkability of the downtown area and create the Walk Downtown outreach program.

New York

Bethlehem:
Project funding was used to install a mural along the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail. The grant was key in garnering additional community support for the county’s Art on Rail Trail project.

Middleburgh: Village of Middleburgh
Six benches and two multiuse tables were added to the village’s parks and business district.

Newburgh:
A demonstration was staged as part of the city and Orange County’s Complete Streets program for Lake Street.

North Carolina

Clay County:
Grant funding supported Mental Health First Aid training for two individuals, enabling them to better assist people experiencing a mental health crisis.

Orange County:
In conjunction with the county’s public transportation department, the grant was used to improve bus stop locations that lacked adequate shelters, benches or even flat areas for waiting passengers. [WWL]

Raleigh:
AARP grant funds were used to purchase equipment for events at a community center that hosts educational programs in art, nature, history and gardening.

North Dakota

Bismarck:
The grant provided a “quick build” pedestrian/bike connection from downtown to the riverfront.

Ohio

McComb:
Grant money was used to add drinking fountains, acquire swing sets suitable for children and adults with disabilities, and install benches at park reservoirs so visitors could sit near the water.

Oxford:
The grant supported the creation of The Directory, a 50-page resource guide for older adults and their families.

Oklahoma

Shawnee:
The grant was used to install a mini traffic circle in order to reduce vehicle speeds and increase safety. The project has accomplished both, making it easier for pedestrians to cross the street. [WWL]

Oregon

Eugene:
Grant funds were used for construction materials to complete an ADA-compliant tiny home in Emerald Village, an affordable housing community of 22 tiny houses. [WWL]

Port Orford:
Grant monies enabled the purchase and placement of benches with attached planters to provide pedestrians with places to sit. [WWL]

Pennsylvania

Harrisburg:
A vacant, overgrown lot was turned into a usable space by planting no-mow grass that, once established, grows only 6 inches high and needs mowing only twice a year. [WWL]

Philadelphia:
A program called Go, Go, Go encouraged residents to get out of their homes and spend time outdoors. The events gave older people with limited English-language proficiency the opportunity to take part in community activities. The grant also enabled the organization to host free art and gardening classes. [WWL]

Rhode Island

Newport:
A grant-funded cooking expo provided recipes for the first two chapters of a cookbook that also includes information about community resources. [WWL]

South Carolina

Camden:
A downtown alley connecting Broad Street to the Town Green lacked welcoming amenities. The grant helped enliven the connecting space. [WWL] and

Columbia:
Funding was provided to install seating along Main Street, an area that attracts pedestrians and hosts events that draw people from the surrounding region. [WWL]

South Dakota

Rapid City:
Flags were placed in locations around the North Rapid neighborhood to increase interest in the area and encourage engagement in community activities. [WWL]

Tennessee

Nashville:
Two community engagement and public space projects were implemented in several neighborhoods to help improve quality of life, walkability, health and safety.

Texas

Houston:
The grant was used to create public art, murals and an event designed to bring the community together. By improving once off-putting public spaces, the project increased walkability and reduced barriers to healthy foods and activities

Houston:
Grant funding helped make the homes of older adults safe and livable. In addition, volunteers helped older adults with yard work and household chores. [WWL]

Utah

Salt Lake City:
The Transit Together Grocery Project taught residents of two low-income, older-adult communities how to use public transit to get to a grocery store and other destinations. [WWL]

Salt Lake City:
The funding was used to build support for the completion of a hiking trail between Provo and Ogden. A community event kicked off with a design workshop, familyfriendly fun and a walking tour of the proposed Folsom Trail. [WWL]

Vermont

Hyde Park:
ADA-accessible picnic tables, surfaces and curb ramps were installed in French Park.

Montpelier:
AARP grant funds supported the development of a downtown area through the installation of tables, plants, lighting, bicycle racks and more.

Virginia

Farmville:
The funding supported a mobile repair trailer for storing and transporting tools used to make safety improvements in homes that, in many cases, have been in families for generations and are in need of significant repair. [WWL]

Washington

Renton:
A pop-up event celebrated National PARK(ing) Day by transforming a parking spot into a temporary public gathering space. [WWL]

Seattle:
A hackathon called A City for All was held to coincide with the National Day for Civic Hacking. The event helped participants learn about age-friendly initiatives and related issues. [WWL]

West Virginia

Charleston:
The grant was used to run a volunteer program that assists older adults with daily tasks. [WWL]
Hinton:
Grant monies covered the cost of purchasing and installing plaques recognizing the historic significance of locations in the Hinton Historic District.

Wisconsin

Milwaukee:
Grant money was used to create a traffic calming demonstration kit and host a workshop in which older residents identified the types of infrastructure features they wanted to see where they lived.

Oconomowoc:
The AARP grant helped turn an underutilized alley into a corridor connecting the main street with a nearby lake. [WWL]

Wyoming

Casper:
A bus shelter with seating was installed on South Pennsylvania Avenue. [WWL]

Jackson:
A trash-strewn bus stop was cleaned up and then made more appealing and usable by the addition of landscaping, a bench and bus information signage. [WWL]

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