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Citizens' Transportation Coalition (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Walkability
└ Walkability
Cracked sidewalks and unsafe curb ramps along Washington Avenue made walking hazardous for older adults and people with mobility challenges. The coalition organized walk audits, trained volunteers and captured nearly 1,000 images to document issues, mapping them for public access. Surveys revealed widespread concerns about accessibility and safety. These efforts built momentum for a citywide sidewalk plan and proposals to repair curb ramps, while fostering collaboration among residents, businesses and city officials to create safer, more walkable streets.
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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Detroit, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Cracked sidewalks, poor lighting and flooding made walking hazardous in Detroit's Petoskey-Otsego neighborhood, limiting mobility for older adults and residents with disabilities. The organization led two walk audits to pinpoint risks and shape a neighborhood plan, sparking collaboration among residents, businesses and city agencies. The effort prompted repairs, debris removal and increased patrols, with plans for seating and shade to support aging residents. As one participant noted, "Participating in the walk audits helped me express the challenges I have as a blind person," a step toward lasting accessibility.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Orosi, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Rural Communities Resource Center organized six walk audits in Orosi to spotlight unsafe streets lacking sidewalks, crosswalks and speed controls. Nearly all participants were age 50-plus, documenting hazards and sharing findings at community meetings. The effort drew attention from local officials and empowered residents to advocate for safer infrastructure. One participant said, "After walking around our town... I felt happy that I could join with others who want to make Orosi a better and safer place."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Staten Island, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Transportation Alternatives addressed safety concerns along Staten Island's Richmond Terrace corridor through walk audits that identified hazards like poor lighting and uneven sidewalks. The effort prompted lighting upgrades on six blocks, sinkhole repairs and plans for a bus shelter near Snug Harbor Cultural Center. These improvements have made the area safer and more inviting, with one resident saying better lighting and clear walkways would make her "more inclined to take walks with her family to local parks and facilities."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Once a vacant lot, the Harry Holmes Healthy Harvest provides free access to garden beds for resident of Houston's Sunnyside neighborhood, a historically Black community. The Houston Land Bank wanted to improve the space to make it more welcoming to people of all ages and abilities. Volunteers built raised beds and installed solar lighting to allow gardeners to work after dark. They also created an accessible pathway, which is designed to be less muddy and slippery after rain. New fig trees at the garden's entrance beautify the space and provide fresh fruit. To celebrate the project's completion, the Land Bank hosted a community event, which promoted grandparents and grandchildren gardening together. At the event, organizers distributed information on financial literacy and affordable paths to homeownership.
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To increase walkability and create a safe, beautiful gathering space, Avenue CDC engaged a local artist, local schoolchildren and residents to create a 600-foot mural. The wall selected for the artwork was off-putting and had been vandalized many times. But the site also acted as the entry point to the Northline neighborhood, since the wall faces the nearby light rail station. The mural's design pays homage to local Latino culture and the history of the neighborhood. As the mural reached its completion, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and project organizers were able to repurpose leftover grant funds to help with recovery and rebuilding.
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