Livable Communities

This summer four Iowa communities received AARP Community Challenge grants to jump-start beautification and accessibility projects. The Iowa grants, which totaled more than $17,000, will help the Avoca Public Library build a musical park for concerts and a green space for gatherings, enable the Keokuk Parks Foundation to convert tennis courts into dedicated pickleball courts, fund decorative lighting on Main Street in Manning, and share the Woodbine community’s history by mounting signs on buildings and in pocket parks along Main Street.

Maddie Miller was born with spina bifida and has been confined to a wheelchair most of her life. Now 22 years of age and employed at the South Suburban YMCA in Des Moines, Miller takes great pride in her independence and relies on Dart transportation to get to and from work. The lack of sidewalks in her neighborhood, however, has put her safety and independence in jeopardy.

Letter to the Editor, by Don Corrigan, AARP Iowa Executive Council Member

By Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director

AARP has announced the awardees for its 2018 AARP Community Challenge grant program, including four recipients right here in Iowa. A total of $1.3 million will be distributed to fund 129 “quick action” projects across the country, helping communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages. Nearly 1,600 applications were received from non-profits and government entities for the program, now in its second year.

Ribbon cutting event to celebrate week-long beautification project in Historic East Village

AARP Iowa, Greater Des Moines Partnership, City of Des Moines, local businesses teaming up to create age-friendly, healthy, active block

Volunteers Needed: Help us to Build a Better Block!

AARP Iowa State Director Kent Sovern was honored earlier this month with the 2017 Planning Advocate – Engaged Citizen award from the Iowa Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-Iowa) during the Upper Midwest Planning Conference in Dubuque. This award honors an individual who has advanced or promoted the cause of planning the built environment in the public arena.

AARP and the Age Friendly Greater Des Moines Initiative are proud to join with the Downtown Chamber to co-host the April 4th Downtown Council networking event from 8-9 am at the Iowa Cub Club at Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, Des Moines 50309. The meeting is free to all Des Moines Downtown Chamber members and their employees.