The 2023 AARP Massachusetts Community Challenge Grantees & Their Work

The AARP Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as: public places, housing, transportation, inclusion, and more. This year, AARP has bolstered its investment in rural communities, mobility innovation, transportation options, & health and food access. The program accepted applications across three different grant opportunities, including existing flagship grants and with the addition of capacity-building microgrants that improve walkability and increase the number of community gardens. Another addition are the new demonstration grants, which focus on improving transportation systems and is receiving funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America and housing choice design competitions. More than $3.6 million in quick-action grants are being distributed to 310 organizations across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP Massachusetts is incredibly proud to have thirteen grantees right here in our state. Our goal is to support their efforts to create great places & experiences for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities.

Here in Massachusetts, the following exciting and diverse projects were funded in these communities below. See it all laid out on this map and scroll down to learn more about each grantee.

• Attleboro: Attleboro Norton YMCA: Free care will be provided to older adults living with Alzheimer's and other related dementias so their caregivers can exercise at the YMCA.
  
• Bridgewater: Bridgewater Senior Center: A garden and outdoor activity area for older adults will be developed at the senior center with wheelchair-accessible raised gardening beds, grilling stations and outdoor seating.
  
• Brookline: Brookline Council on Aging- The Town of Brookline is exploring on-demand transportation for all residents and in particular, its older residents. While the north part of Brookline is transit rich, the south part lacks public transit and accessible sidewalks. On-demand transportation increases access to the town for people without easy access to public transit. This project implements a pilot to demonstrate how better transportation options can create access to community resources for all low-to-moderate income residents of Brookline. The Brookline Council on Aging is also partnering with the Brookline Department of Public Health to conduct outreach in order to identify the residents most in need of this type of transportation option and will then provide transportation to two community events as part oft his project.
  
• Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission: This project would provide educational workshops and supplies for small gardens, improving access to fresh and healthy food, increasing physical activity, stress relief, socialization, and cost savings for older Massachusetts residents. (Location: Auburn, Brimfield, Dudley, Oxford, Southbridge, and Webster)
  
• Chelsea: La Colaborativa, Inc.  -La Plazita is being constructed to provide Chelsea residents age 50+ an indoor/outdoor activity space to gather, connect, celebrate and create community.
  
• Clarksburg: Clarksburg Town Library- This project involves building a community gathering space within the town library. By installing new shelving, clearing floor space, and adding furniture, we will provide a place for our rural community, especially our seniors, to meet and interact year-round.
  
• Dunstable: Town of Dunstable- Three walk audits in the town center will be conducted, with a focus on connections with public facilities, conservation trails and the small business community.
  
• Greenfield: Friends of Franklin County Fairgrounds- This project consists of installing a stair lift to the second floor of the historic Roadhouse building allowing inclusive access for older adults and people with disabilities who frequent the building.
  
• Lowell: Lowell Parks & Community Trust- Programs and outreach specifically for 50-plus residents and their families living in subsidized housing along the Greenway, raising awareness about this recently expanded green corridor through the heart of the city of Lowell. LP&CT proposes to host a regular series of activities every third Saturday of the month (rain date the following Saturday)- from June to November of 2023. Events would include guided walks, nature journaling, yoga, stewardship training, and other family-friendly programming.
  
• Lynn: Bike to the Sea- Bike to the Sea will assess challenges older adults in Lynn face when accessing the shared-use Northern Strand Trail. The results will be used to advocate for change.
  
• Northborough: Northborough Senior Center- This project is creating an ADA-accessible trail with multiple rest locations and access points, connecting the Northborough Senior Center to the nearby open space/trail system, while offering social and recreational amenities for all generations.
  
• Springfield: WalkMassachusetts- A training program will be established to teach residents how to recognize hazardous conditions in their communities and advocate for changes to make streets safer for pedestrians
  
• Taunton: Downtown Taunton Foundation- Three walk audits will be conducted in Taunton to identify the best route for a three-mile walking path to encourage recreation, physical fitness and tourism.
  

If you want to learn more about the livable communities and the Age & Dementia Friendly work being done in Massachusetts, go to our Age-Friendly page- www.aarp.org/MAagefriendly.

The Community Challenge is part of AARP’s nationwide work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all residents. We believe that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; affordable and accessible housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life. To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in Massachusetts and across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge.