Massachusetts Community Challenge Grant Recipients Announced

 

AARP Massachusetts is pleased to announce two local recipients of the AARP Community Challenge grant program, which aims to help create change and improve quality of life at the community level.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield received funding for the creation of an intergenerational community garden and education program.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), with the Town of Natick, also received funding to develop Senior Friendly Trails. The MAPC will promote changes to address the specific mobility, recreational and logistical needs of older adults in using the off-road trails in Natick.

Projects are partially or fully funded through the AARP Community Challenge grant program, and must be completed by Nov. 1, 2017.

Congratulations to both Massachusetts organizations!

AARP Massachusetts, working in collaboration with communities across the state, is bringing people together and providing resources and expertise to help make Massachusetts counties, towns and cities great places to live for all ages, announced the Community Challenge grants application process in June 2017.

The grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide  Livable Communities initiative that aims to make our communities great places to live for everyone.

The program was open to 501(C) (3) and 501(C) (4) non-profits and government entities.

Applications were due by July 15, 2017, and had to deliver on the following drivers for change:

• Improving a community’s built environment to benefit all ages and ability levels (and connect to the social environment). For example:
• Transforming vacant or underutilized public spaces
• Creating intergenerational playgrounds
• Installing traffic calming measures, like circles, street trees, crosswalk enhancements, etc.
• Pop-up projects to highlight positive changes that communities can make to roadways (temporary or permanent bike lanes, roundabouts, etc.) and expand transportation options
• Driving community engagement and interaction across diverse community residents (e.g., culture/art, local communication, public space/place-making, sports, education, well-being / healthy living, etc.) For example:
• Hosting activities to encourage healthy eating and exercise
• Holding Open Streets programs and festivals to encourage people to walk and bike through the community
• Leveraging Pop Up/tactical urbanism demonstrations to create parklets, etc.