AARP awards three “Livability” grants to three Valley organizations

WASILLA — AARP recently selected United of Mat-Su, the UAF Cooperative Extension Farm, and Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation as the Mat-Su Valley’s 2020 Community Challenge Grants winners.

The three organizations received grants from AARP’s national program as a part of their highest release to date, totaling to $2.4 million in grants given to 184 organizations across the country.

The selected Valley organizations will use the funds to fuel their efforts implementing “quick-action” projects to make the community more livable.

The Cooperative Extension plans to create a new area to grow fresh foods and demonstrate how to build a space that is inclusive of people of ages and abilities.

The Trails and Parks Foundation will provide new, stocked life jacket loaner boards at public-use ADA and accessible facilities to increase access to the outdoors and water recreation.

United Way staff are working to create a task force to work with senior residents and local artists to design and create an art and cultural trail reflective of the Valley’s history and culture.

Outreach coordinator Michele Harmeling said they’re all very excited to receive this highly competitive grant to improve the quality of lives for further generations while sharing the stories of those past with memorable art projects.

“AARP and the community challenge program are really leaders in projects that are gonna’ benefit not just seniors but all community members so they really have recognized the strengths of the projects that were proposed up here in Alaska,” Harmeling said.

Harmeling said it was great that AARP is supporting several Valley organizations this year.

“I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s wonderful to shed a light on the Mat-Su… recognizing the strength of our projects up here in Alaska,” Harmeling said.

Harmeling said they’re seeking submissions for positions on the new task force to identify parks, playgrounds, and trails to upgrade with the help of local artists. She said they plan to decorate trails in the Palmer area.

“We’re just looking to create a more vibrant and inviting space that will also be able to celebrate the Valley’s rich and cultural and natural history, and that would include Alaska Native culture, and agriculture, botany; we’ll probably do some salmon and some sort of natural resource theme in there,” Harmeling said.

Harmeling said that after they form the task force, they’ll start collecting stories from Valley residents, throughout the fall and winter. She said they’ll be particularly seeking input from local seniors and longtime residents.

“So what we want to do is really solicit input from our community, particularly from our seniors and our lifelong residents in terms of their stories and what kind of history they’d like to see incorporated,” Harmeling said.

United Way will also make a call for artists of all ages with installation work expected to start in the Spring of 2021.

“We always welcome input and ideas from the community,” Harmeing said.

For more information about United Way of Mat-Su, call 907-373-5818 or visit unitedwaymatsu.org.

For more information about the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, call 907-746-8757 or visit matsutrails.org.

For more information about the UAF Cooperative Extension Farm, call 907-746-9450 or visit uaf.edu/afes.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com