City Invests in Greater Bond Neighborhood

City of Tallahassee Awarded Over $8,000 by AARP for New Linear Park

July 18, 2019

The City of Tallahassee is proud to be a recipient of the AARP Community Challenge grant. The City’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department was selected out of more than 1,660 applicants to receive $8,880 for the construction of the linear park that will be constructed in the Greater Bond Neighborhood as part of the Neighborhood First Plan.

“Tallahassee is an age-friendly community known for creating environments for everyone, those young and young at heart,” Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Richardson said. “We are delighted that AARP selected our City to be a grant recipient and look forward to adding another vibrant public space that will increase access to health, fitness and social connections within our community.”

The AARP Community Challenge Grant Program is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities Initiative. The program is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress in support of residents of all ages.

This linear park project addresses three key areas identified in the 2016 livability survey conducted in partnership with AARP: health and wellness, transportation and streets and outdoor features and public spaces.

The 860 ft. linear park will serve as a connector to two existing neighborhood parks, as well as the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, a 16-mile rail trail between Tallahassee and the Gulf Coast. The park will feature a 10 ft. wide trail and a variety of amenities accessible to all age groups. Grant funds will be used for enhancements to the park including a bench swing, a wheelchair accessible bottle filler, drinking fountain and one placemaking sign.

The Greater Neighborhood First Plan was adopted by the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association in September 2018 and adopted by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in December of 2018. The plan addresses the neighborhood’s top priorities and concerns: Community Beautification, Land Use, Economic Development and Resident Empowerment and Neighborhood Safety and Crime Prevention.

The plan was funded with a commitment from the CRA of $6.4 million, starting with an initial $500,000 to support several kickoff projects in the neighborhood. One of these projects is the linear park. Construction of the linear park is scheduled to begin in August 2019.

For more information on this and other City programs, please visit or call 850-891-8795.