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AARP announced that five Kansas organizations will receive 2025 Community Challenge grants. These grants are part of AARP’s $4.2 million effort to fund 383 projects nationwide that improve communities for people of all ages, especially older adults.

The funding will support improvements in public spaces, transportation, housing, digital access, and more. Since 2017, Kansas has received $427,000 through 35 grants as part of this program, which supports projects across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“AARP Kansas is proud to work with communities across the state to help make them more livable for people of all ages,” said Glenda DuBoise, Kansas state director. “These projects are about turning great local ideas into real improvements that make everyday life better, especially for older Kansans.”

Project funding in Kansas includes:

• Caney Community Betterment Group will receive a $18,000 flagship grant for the Caney “Courts” Program. The program will repaint aging basketball courts and install new goals. It will also convert old tennis courts to pickleball courts promoting active living, socializing, and community wellness especially those age 50 and older.
• City of Cimarron will receive a $15,000 flagship grant to add a pickleball court to Cimarron Crossing Park along with a shaded area and benches. This will provide a new recreational activity for adults and create a space for socializing while watching others play.
• City of Winfield will receive a $15,000 flagship grant to install rapid flashing beacons on Main Street in Winfield to improve pedestrian safety. The beacons will enhance visibility, reduce accidents, and support walkability, especially for older adults, by ensuring safer crossings.
• Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes will receive a $9,500 flagship grant to add three new Kansas Unsung Hero panels to the Unsung Heroes Park in Fort Scott, Kansas. These panels will feature stories of William Matthews, Mary Ann Bickerdyke, and Chester Nez, and will include QR codes for translation into any language.
• Riverside Garden in Wichita will receive a $15,000 flagship grant to enhance accessibility by installing sidewalks, an accessible raised bed, a bench, and ergonomic tools. The project aims to support individuals with mobility issues, especially older adults.

View the full list of grantees and their projects at aarp.org/communitychallenge 

Learn more about AARP’s work to support livable communities at aarp.org/livable