Rossville, GA (June 18, 2025) — Walker County is among the recipients of the 2025 AARP Community Challenge Grant, securing $15,000 to enhance digital connectivity at Adventure Acres, the county’s flagship park currently under construction near Rossville.
The funding will support the installation of a public charging station and a free internet hotspot at the park, a move aimed at improving online access for economically vulnerable residents—especially older adults—who live in nearby areas with low internet adoption rates.
“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 for Walker County. “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, located off Salem Road, is expected to open later this summer, with the digital infrastructure components slated to go live before the end of the year.
“AARP Community Challenge projects may be quick to launch, but their impact is long-lasting,” said Nancy A. LeaMond, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer at AARP. “This year, we’re especially proud to invest in projects that benefit often overlooked rural areas.”
Walker County’s initiative was selected from a competitive pool of over 3,450 applicants, and is one of 383 projects nationwide to receive funding through the Community Challenge, part of AARP’s Livable Communities initiative. Now in its ninth year, the program has awarded more than $24.3 million to over 2,000 projects that aim to make cities, towns, and rural communities more age-friendly.