Natick, MA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Trails

Description: This community engagement initiative sought to identify solutions to allow older adults and people with mobility issues to use off-road trails in Natick. Project organizers met with town staff ahead of two focus groups with older adults, who shared their experiences with local trails. Additionally, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council created an online survey to collect more feedback. Older adults said their main concerns were access to bathrooms, personal safety, clear signage, availability of parking near trailheads, even walking surfaces and benches to sit on. MAPC then held a placemaking event at the Natick Community-Senior Center. Attendees could walk along a prototype trail with photos of planned upgrades and hear from MAPC staff. Participants also had a chance to share their personal stories about the things they've discovered while hiking. The result was a list of practical, low-cost action items the town can use to improve Natick's pathways.

Boston, MA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities

Description: The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, which serves residents in Boston's low-income Roxbury and North Dorchester neighborhoods, created virtual spaces for intergenerational dialogue on community issues. To do this, the organization hosted a series of workshops, forums and support groups where residents could see one another and share their experiences. Because the area is home to many Cape Verdean and Latino families, DSNI provided interpretation services. They also provided technical support to those who needed it. One highlight was an in-person listening session held at one of Roxbury's last remaining vacant lots, where DSNI recorded residents talking about their needs and concerns. The organization has since added other virtual programming, including a monthly book club.