FORT PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – Fort Pierre has received an $8,000 grant from AARP to maintain the town’s community gardens.

Mayor Gloria Hanson says their project was ranked #1 in the nation.

She says the project got started last year.

Hanson says each of the garden beds is 18 inch high, 4 feet wide and 36 feet long.

AARP says the Fort Pierre Community Gardens also promote social interaction, physical activity in the outdoors and fresh produce for a healthy diet.

AARP is distributing nearly $1.6 million among 159 grant winners across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.