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Aging At Home Wayne (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Wayne is a small town however, its population triples during the summer tourist season. The inflow of tourists brings with it more cars on the road, often traveling at faster speeds. To make the village's main street safer for both pedestrians and motorists, Aging at Home Wayne installed a crossing signal system. The signal system consists of a pedestrian crossing sign consisting of flashing beacons on both sides of the crosswalk. Pedestrians can now alert drivers when they're about to cross by pushing a button, which activates the lights.
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See More Projects Like This One
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: In Milwaukee's Amani neighborhood, speeding cars and unsafe crossings put older adults at risk, especially after one was struck near a church. The project installed a temporary traffic calming circle and added painted crosswalks, picnic tables and buddy benches. The benches feature vibrant designs created by local artists, along with older adults and youth. More than 300 residents joined Pedestrian Safety Month events, building momentum for permanent solutions like raised crosswalks. Community advocacy continues with city officials to secure lasting infrastructure changes that make streets safer and foster neighborhood pride.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Memphis, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: This project improved the South Memphis neighborhood of Soulsville neighborhood by creating an artistic crosswalk at a busy intersection. The installation served to beautify the street, as well as improve pedestrian and cycling safety by making the crosswalk more visible to drivers. Project organizers say they hope the street art also fosters a sense of pride among the neighborhood's residents.
Teaneck, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The Township of Teaneck installed rapid flashing beacons at a busy intersection to alert drivers of pedestrians crossing the street. Project organizers hoped making crosswalks safer would encourage walking, leading to better health outcomes for residents. Teaneck has since upgraded additional crosswalks by adding more flashing beacons, lit pedestrian crosswalk signs and improved pavement striping.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Wayne, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The downtown area of Wayne, Maine, appears suddenly to drivers traveling along Route 133, a busy state highway. Because of curves in the road and a hill, pedestrians crossing Main Street often aren't visible to drivers until the last second. "Logging trucks and other large trucks race through town, barely slowing down as they do," said Stan Davis, chair of the community's aging-at-home committee. To make pedestrians more noticeable, Aging at Home installed flashing Reduce Speed at either end of Wayne's downtown area. The town also purchased portable pedestrian crossing signs. Spurred by the success of the improvements, they plan to continue advocating for sidewalks in central Wayne to make walking even safer.
Readfield, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Readfield's Age-Friendly Committee set out to enhance the town's public spaces and draw the community together. They purchased outdoor furniture to activate two spaces -- one outside the local public library and the other at Readfield Beach on Maranacook Lake. The beach's moveable Adirondack chairs give visitors a change to interact with each other. Additionally, the tables and chairs at the library allow residents to access free Wi-Fi service, even when the library building is closed. Library visitors of all wages can also rest there after enjoying the nearby story walk.
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