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Berkley Downtown Development Agency (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Walk Audits
└ Walk Audits
Downtown Berkley's main corridor lacked safe, walkable routes for older adults, even near age-restricted housing, limiting social connection and daily well-being. To address this, the agency led walk audits along Coolidge during a popular Halloween event, engaging residents and collecting feedback on sidewalks and crossings. Surveys highlighted ideas for streetscape upgrades during planned road reconstruction. The audits advanced dialogue on walkability and influenced city planning. One older adult shared, "When the weather is good and I get to walk through downtown my day instantly gets better. There are a lot of friends I get to see in different shops and on the street."
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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Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Residents will conduct 4-6 transit-oriented walk audits in three neighborhoods with congregate housing for older adults. Activities include the audit, bus training, civic engagement coaching, and follow-up.
Cairo, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: In rural southern Illinois, older adults faced unsafe walking conditions with missing sidewalks and overgrown paths, forcing them into streets to reach parks and stores. CHESI organized walk audits across three towns, engaging 37 residents, including many age 50-plus, to review 100 blocks and document hazards. Participants met with local leaders to push for improvements and raised awareness of pedestrian safety. The effort sparked advocacy campaigns and scheduled meetings with mayors. This laid the groundwork for safer sidewalks and crosswalks and inspired future livable community projects.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: This project will launch a community walkability and safety initiative to assess and improve pedestrian infrastructure. It aims to enhance mobility by identifying needed sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.
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Royal Oak, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Older adults and people with disabilities struggled to enjoy outdoor spaces at the Senior Center because benches and tables were unsafe and inaccessible. The city replaced them with ADA-compliant picnic tables and benches on hard-surface paths, creating safe spots for socializing and respite near the arboretum. These upgrades complement major park investments and encourage older adults to gather outdoors and participate in programs. A spring Arbor Day event will showcase the improvements, reinforcing long-term plans for inclusive public spaces.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Madison Heights, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Love Garden at the Chinese Community Center is popular with Madison Heights residents. To make the space more accessible and welcoming, the Association of Chinese Americans expanded the garden with a greenhouse, gazebo and new benches. The greenhouse enables the organization to grow more plants and involve new community members, and serves as a service and storage area for the annual Healthy Gardening Fair. With its contemplative environment, the gazebo offers an inviting, safe gathering place for community members to gather for meditation, Tai-Chi and light exercise. Organizers hope the upgraded amenities help improve residents' physical and mental health.
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