2024/25 Winter Placemaking Grantees Announced!

Today, AARP Vermont announced eight organizations and communities throughout Vermont will receive 2024 Winter Placemaking grants. Proposals from Arrowhead Senior Center, Belvidere Community Club, the City of Burlington, Heineberg Senior Center, the Town of Lunenburg, the Town of Northfield, Vershire Recreation Committee, and the Town of Westmore were selected from dozens of applications for the initiative. The grants fund quick-action projects that initiate winter placemaking demonstrations focused on creating or reinventing public spaces to improve safety, accessibility, and overall appeal. Now in its fifth year, the program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods, and rural areas to become great places to live for all residents, especially those aged 50 and older.

Vermont’s cold and dark winter months pose several challenges for residents across the state, including social isolation. The Winter Placemaking grant program focuses on helping communities embrace the winter months by reinventing public spaces to encourage outdoor activities and social engagement.

"AARP Vermont is proud to continue our commitment to building livable communities through the 2024 Winter Placemaking Grants,” said Kelly Stoddard Poor, Associate State Director of Community Outreach at AARP Vermont. “These grants are an investment in the creativity and resilience of local organizations, empowering them to transform public spaces into safe, accessible, and engaging environments where older adults can thrive. By supporting these community-driven projects, we are fostering a Vermont where every resident, regardless of age, can enjoy a vibrant and fulfilling life."

This year’s grant recipients are:

Town of Lunenburg – the grant will fund three candlelight winter walks, focused on accessibility, safety, and community engagement.

Town of Westmore – the grant will help fund a project aimed at designing opportunities for community members to participate in activities during the winter months in a newly rehabbed space.

Town of Northfield – grant funding will go toward Northfield Ice Block Parties: two town-wide winter gatherings in an accessible location where everyone is welcome to sled, skate, snowshoe, walk or roll, play games, and enjoy the company of neighbors while enjoying free food, warm drinks and a sizzling firepit to defrost wet mittens.

Heineberg Community Senior Center – the grant will help to fund visits to Ethan Allen Homestead and Shelburne Farms to explore local landscapes and Indigenous and colonial history. Participants will be provided with Yaktrax and trekking poles for safety and digital cameras for photography.

Arrowhead Senior Citizen Center (Milton) – grant funds will be used to implement nine winter events utilizing multiple Milton venues focused on skill building, hands-on activities, socialization, health and wellness resources, and fun!

Vershire Recreation Committee – the grant will fund a series of intergenerational winter recreational activities to highlight what is special about Vershire. Possible activities include: moonlight snowshoe and snowmobile meet-up on Flagpole Hill, an evening of fun at the Town Center Skating Rink, a contra dance at the historic Town Center, guided hikes, yoga classes, and game nights.

Belvidere Community Club – grant funds will help implement a variety of activities in the School building during the winter months. Community dinners, yoga, music, line dancing, Belvidere artists’ and crafters’ exhibits are examples of possible offerings that can be open to all residents.

City of Burlington – the grant will help fund the creation of a Winter Placemaking project by beautifying the entrance to Leddy Park from the Hannaford Shopping Plaza to create a welcoming space under the evergreen canopy for programmed events and winter placemaking for New North End residents.

Since 2020, AARP Vermont has awarded more than $104,000 to 26 projects through the Winter Placemaking grant program to communities across the state.