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Aging is Cool (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Walkability
└ Walkability
Broken sidewalks and debris in busy Austin corridors made walking hazardous for older adults and wheelchair users. The group led two walk audits near grocery stores, documenting safety issues and sharing findings with city officials and nonprofits. The effort raised awareness and sparked discussions on repairs and accessibility. One resident said he welcomed the assessment after a sidewalk crack caused a fall and weeks in rehab, underscoring the need for safer routes for older adults.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Glen Rock, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Glen Rock faced growing concerns about pedestrian safety downtown, where older adults struggled with uneven sidewalks and drivers ignoring signals. To address this, the borough led three walk audits with 39 volunteers, most age 50-plus, who documented hazards and learned how to advocate for improvements. Their findings were compiled into a detailed report for municipal and regional agencies, prompting plans for repairs, signage and enforcement. The effort also created a trained network ready to conduct future audits. One participant noted how important this was given noticable walkability issues in this and other communities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Dunstable, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: With no sidewalks in its historic center, even short walks to the library required police escorts, leaving older adults and children at risk. To address this, the town led three walk audits and community meetings to map hazards and revive plans for a sidewalk linking the center to the library. The audits also identified informal paths for conversion to accessible trails and informed updated design documents for a larger network. Officials are now pursuing state funding for new connectors.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Busy intersections near a new commuter rail station posed safety risks for pedestrians, including older adults. The project conducted walk audits at four hazardous crossings and gathered input from nearby residents. Weekly walks and a workshop mapped risks and built partnerships for future improvements. Findings informed city proposals for upgrades such as sensors to monitor near misses, while plans for art and landscaping aim to create a safer, more inviting environment for people traveling on foot or bike.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Austin, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Along one stretch of an urban trail, users encountered a space that offered little reason to stop, reflect or connect with the area's past. BikeTexas addressed this by installing a large, multi-panel mural that depicts the neighborhood's early railroad history and the people who shaped it. Community members, including older adults, helped review the design, and professional artists completed the work as a highly visible landmark along the trail. The mural turned an overlooked segment into a place where older adults can pause, walk more comfortably and engage with local history rather than simply pass through. It also added a shared point of interest that encouraged conversation and repeat visits. One trail user said the artwork brightened her regular walks and changed how the space felt, reinforcing the mural's role as a welcoming destination along the trail.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Austin, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Disaster Preparedness
Description: Meals on Wheels Central Texas addressed gaps in disaster preparedness that left many older adults unsure how to respond to emergencies, even as nearby flooding underscored the risks. The project hosted preparedness events at congregate sites, pairing simple first aid and disaster pre-planning with familiar activities such as trivia and bingo to keep learning approachable. Participants received checklists in English and Spanish and assembled home safety kits with essentials like flashlights, batteries and thermal items. One participant said the sessions helped her focus on practical steps after flooding affected her family, noting that thinking through small details made a difference. Attendance increased and requests for more learning followed, prompting the organization to embed preparedness education into regular gatherings so skills continue beyond one-time events.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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