Challenge Grant Improves Park in McComb

A park in the village of McComb has new benches and play equipment, thanks to a $20,000 AARP challenge grant.

The park is a focal point of this community of about 1,600 in northwestern Ohio. It features walking paths around two reservoirs, frequent games on four baseball diamonds and a zero-edge swimming pool, which allows people of all ages to enter with ease. In the winter, a free ice rink is open to everyone.

Adult and multigenerational playgrounds boost physical fitness and encourage older adults to come out to play, thereby reducing social isolation.

The AARP Community Challenge program awarded $780,000 to fund 88 “quick action” projects in all 50 states in 2017. For details, go to aarp.org/communitychallenge or aarp.org/oh.