Grove, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Crossing busy highways in downtown Grove was risky for older adults, discouraging visits to shops and events. The city installed two pedestrian-activated lighted crosswalk signals, an advance warning signal and LED lights to improve safety and complement earlier ADA upgrades. These changes make it easier for residents to walk downtown and join festivals and shopping. One resident said, "Before the lighted crosswalk signals were installed... I stayed away from the downtown area and missed out on a lot of festivals and events. With the added crosswalk signals my friends and I enjoy visiting downtown Grove."

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

Missoula, MT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Missoula's Transportation Planning hoped to improve safety at a busy intersection in the Riverfront neighborhood, while also giving people a space to gather. First, project organizers asked residents and local business owners for their ideas to improve the streetscape. Ahead of activating the intersection, the city's public works department made upgrades to pavement and water mains. Based on community feedback, Missoula Transportation Planning then created bulb-outs, which extend the curb into the intersection, giving pedestrians extra space, making them more visible to drivers and shortening the distance needed to cross the road. Curb ramps make the crosswalks accessible. To create a seating area, they also created two parklets -- mini-parks that fit in the footprint of on-street parking spaces. The parklets featured art, a space to park bikes and decorative foliage.

Macon-Bibb County, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Using public art, Bike Walk Macon set out to improve pedestrian safety in three high-traffic corridors near community centers. First, project organizers gathered feedback from residents of the East Macon, Pleasant Hill and South Macon neighborhoods. They then commissioned two local artists to design on-street murals and artistic crosswalks. With help from volunteers, the artists painted the designs onto the pavement during three Open Streets events. Organizers say they compiled lessons learned from the placemaking initiative into a toolkit for future traffic calming projects. And since creating the crosswalks, Bike Walk Macon has completed similar interventions in other neighborhoods.