Muskogee, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Cracked, overgrown sidewalks in one Muskogee neighborhood forced residents with mobility challenges into the street, turning routine trips into safety risks and limiting independence for older adults. Sheena's Helping Hands organized community walk audits to document hazards along local walking routes, with older adult volunteers, residents and business owners helping capture on-the-ground conditions. The findings highlighted broken pavement, blocked paths and unsafe crossings that made wheelchair and cane use difficult. One participant recalled how a wheelchair user had to push herself to the store using her foot and repeatedly enter traffic because sidewalks were impassable, adding, "We feared for her safety." The audit results were shared with city leaders and public works staff, providing concrete evidence to support complaints and future repairs and strengthening local advocacy for safer pedestrian access.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Salina, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Multiple walk audits will review limited walking options in Salina’s main areas. Community meetings will share findings with town officials to support future improvements.