City of Elk City Presented with Honorary Grant Check by AARP Oklahoma for Community Garden Updates

The City Council of Elk City and Elk City community officials are one step closer to a revitalized community garden through the AARP Community Grant Challenge. Community officials were presented with a $2,919 honorary check from AARP Oklahoma during the September 18 City Council meeting.

AARP Community Grant Challenge dollars will fund the expansion of the Elk City community garden that was initiated in 2015. AARP funds will allow for the addition of nine table gardens and three six-foot benches to community’s existing community food garden which allow for a more comfortable opportunity for gardeners unable to stand for long periods of time or head-on gardening access for individuals in seated positions. The City provides the garden, located at 1308 Greenhouse Way, free of charge to community residents.

The grant project is currently underway and has a planned completion date of November.

“Our goal is to make all neighborhoods, communities, cities and rural areas great places for people of all ages and life stages,” said Sean Voskuhl, AARP Oklahoma state director.

The City of Elk City grant is among nearly $1.6 million distributed to fund 159 “quick action” projects across the country, helping communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages. Nearly 1,700 applications were received from non-profits and government entities for the program, now in its third year.

Other Oklahoma communities receiving AARP Community Grant Challenge funding in 2019 include McAlester and the Delaware Nation. A full list of grantees can be found at www.aarp.org/communitychallenge.

“AARP has teams on the ground in communities across the country who hear from mayors, community leaders and local residents about the value of getting quick wins to create long-term change. We developed the Community Challenge grant program to answer that call and help build momentum for more livable communities nationwide,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President, Community, State and National Affairs. “This year, we are proud to fund more projects in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.”

The Community Challenge grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative which helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages. As part of this, AARP staff and volunteers are working across the country, engaging and mobilizing residents, delivering technical assistance and expertise to local leaders and organizations, and supporting the work of the 381 communities and four states that have enrolled in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.