Rossville, GA (June 18, 2025) – AARP announced today Walker County has been selected to receive a 2025 AARP Community Challenge Grant to expand digital connectivity at the county’s first signature park, Adventure Acres.

“AARP Community Challenge projects may be quick to launch, but their impact is long-lasting,” said Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “We’re proud to support communities nationwide to advance solutions that make neighborhoods and towns of all sizes better places to live where everyone can thrive. And this year, we’re particularly proud to invest in projects benefiting often overlooked rural areas.”

The $15,000 grant will help Walker County add a public charging station and internet hotspot at Adventure Acres to expand connectivity and promote wellness, particularly among older adults.

“We’re thrilled AARP saw the value of our proposal and chose to invest in helping make our community more livable for residents of all ages,” said Joe Legge, Director of Communications and Community Development, Walker County. “Data from our Community Connectivity Plan found a low adoption rate of internet subscriptions among residents living near Adventure Acres. We hope providing an internet hotspot here will help those who struggle economically to get online, while also providing older adults a free connection point.”

Adventure Acres is the county’s new signature park currently under construction off Salem Road near Rossville. While the park is tentatively scheduled to open later this summer, the public charging station and internet hotspot will come online later this year.

The AARP Community Challenge is a grant program to make tangible improvements in communities that jump-start long-term change. It 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 people of all ages.

Walker County’s project is one of 383 quick-action projects selected from among more than 3,450 applications from across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now in its ninth year, the Challenge has awarded more than $24.3 million through over 2,000 grants to nonprofit organizations and local government entities across the country.