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Akron, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: West Akron's aging sidewalks and crossings made walking risky for older adults, especially in areas built for vehicle flow instead of pedestrian safety. Habitat trained 13 volunteers to conduct walk audits along 16 routes after sessions with city and public health partners, giving residents firsthand insight into planning and walkability challenges. Volunteers found widespread sidewalk damage, poor lighting and limited signage. One noted seeing a wheelchair user traveling in the street because the sidewalk was too broken to use. Their findings now guide discussions with officials and strengthen long-term resident advocacy for safer routes.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Easton, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: A walk audit during the group's Healthfest revealed cracked sidewalks, blocked ramps and unsafe crossings in downtown Easton, limiting mobility for older adults. The audit led to recommendations for repairs, wheelchair-accessible paths and pedestrian-controlled signals at key intersections. Findings were shared with city officials to prompt safety improvements. "Incorporating the Walk Audit was very enlightening to help the...population of downtown Easton," organizers said, noting the effort gave residents a voice in shaping safer streets.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
New York City, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Older adults faced daily risks along Canal Street, where speeding traffic and missing curb cuts made crossing dangerous. To address this, the group led four walk audits and three meetings with more than 100 participants, identifying urgent fixes like leading pedestrian intervals and improved visibility. The effort produced advocacy letters to community boards and influenced DOT's planned redesign, which includes raised crosswalks and speed reductions. One participant said, "I've witnessed multiple crashes... More greenery, slower speeds and safety at the bridge entrance would make it safer for everyone."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Albany, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Underground Railroad Education Center constructed an accessible, indoor garden in the Arbor Hill neighborhood, whose residents lack access to fresh produce and gardening space. Designed for year-round use, the new hoop house represents an intergenerational collaboration between younger and older adults. Local teenagers created and installed planters and now help grow food there. Albany businesses and volunteers also contributed to the project by building benches for the site. Today, the Center grows produce, such as lettuce, in the greenhouse, which it donates to people in the community.
Albany, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: Rural New York faces a growing population of those age 50-plus along with limited housing options. Yet, many communities lack ADU ordinances and awareness of state funding. To address this, the coalition hosted two webinars for planners and housing groups on ADU benefits and mailed AARP's ADU guide to county offices. It also posted sample ordinances online to help communities act. The effort aims to spur adoption of ADUs for multigenerational living and aging in place. "We are hopeful that... more communities adopt local ordinances that permit ADUs," said the organization, which plans to expand outreach at its next annual conference.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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