Hebron, NE

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Trails

Description: The walking trail along the Little Blue River on Hebron's south side is an important pedestrian artery, connecting an area hospital and wellness center with camping, outdoor sports and fitness facilities. To improve public safety and expand the hours when residents can use the path, Hebron installed solar-powered lights. The Thayer County Walking Coalition, a local advocacy group, has worked to convince local officials to improve the trail and promote its use. With their input, the City has increased the length of local trails by about two miles in recent years. Going forward, the coalition and City hope to install lighting along additional trail segments.

Maplewood, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Trails

Description: Park visitors, including many older adults, once had to walk on grass or a busy road to reach playgrounds and ballfields, creating safety concerns. The project installed a 560-foot asphalt path to complete the park's interior loop, restored a historic entryway and planted dawn redwoods for future shade. Volunteers added shrubs and perennials during a community planting day, strengthening community pride. The path quickly became a well-used asset, giving older adults safer access and space for exercise. One frequent parkgoer said, "It looks like it's always been there, because it should have been!"

Poplar Bluff, MO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Trails

Description: Poplar Bluff lacked a safe, continuous route connecting city neighborhoods to the Wolf Creek Trail, limiting mobility for older adults who rely on trails for recreation and access to services. The project built a 1.8-mile ADA-accessible concrete connector and installed an ADA bench, linking the city's trail system to 21 miles of forest paths. This permanent improvement opens year-round access to nature and supports physical and mental well-being. Early counts show more than 1,000 users, and the trail has spurred community events and investment. One resident said, "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see people on that trail."