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City of Chicago Department of Transportation (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
To promote walkability, economic development and better quality of life for residents, the Chicago Department of Transportation created a replicable prototype for a People Spot. Consisting of a wooden platform, the People Spots transform on-street parking spaces into outdoor patios. To help neighborhood groups set up their own People Spots, the City published construction plans and an assembly manual for the parklets online. Part of the City's Livable Streets Program, organizers say the temporary infrastructure helps neighborhoods overcome economic hardship by encouraging residents to walk and frequent local businesses. The City installed its first People Spot in the South Side Chatham neighborhood in 2018. That iteration measured about six feet wide by 20 feet long, but the platforms can be as long as 80 feet.
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San Antonio, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The City of San Antonio's World Heritage Office made improvements to the World Heritage Trail, which connects five Spanish colonial missions. The trail is one of only 24 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the U.S. To make the trail a more inviting place for people of all ages to walk, run and bike, the City added an interactive art installation beneath a highway overpass, which depicts each mission's location along the San Antonio River. They also installed limestone benches along the trail. Project organizers say the upgrades are meant to help visitors view a series of murals painted as part of a public art initiative.
Pikeville, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The plaza welcoming visitors to Pikeville's Appalachian Center for the Arts was looking a little run down. To increase its curb appeal and encourage tourism, the City initiated a multi-phase effort to redesign the area to be an outdoor gathering space. They resurfaced the plaza with custom, decorative pavers, installed benches, improved landscaping and added a shade canopy. The plaza redesign made downtown Pikeville more walkable and added a safe, outdoor space for visitors to enjoy music and art -- something much needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since these improvements, the City has used the plaza for public events and improved nearby sidewalks and crosswalks.
Louisville, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project made a series of placemaking improvements to the Woodlawn Avenue business district, located in the Beechmont neighborhood. First, the Center for Neighborhoods added pedestrian-level lighting along the street to improve safety. They also converted three parking spaces into an outdoor cafe space. Originally meant to be temporary, the picnic area's popularity spurred project organizers to create Louisville's first permanent parklet in the spot, which includes a deck, seating, a green wall and planter boxes. Beautification efforts also included activating a nearby alleyway. That included painting a mural for the space, which community members named Beechmont Alley. New, accessible parking spaces helped make the corridor more welcoming to people of all ability levels.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: This project set out to increase awareness of accessory dwelling units -- small housing units constructed on a property alongside a preexisting single family home. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus held its proposes a Granny Flat Academy, a series of educational workshops for Chicagoland residents, elected officials and municipal staff. The workshops highlighted best practices for amending ordinances to allow ADU construction and how to educate residents about the benefits of ADUs. Organizers say ADUs support lifelong communities, allowing people to age in place in their neighborhoods in an accessible, affordable setting.
Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options
Description: Many older adults in suburban Chicago lacked affordable transportation, leaving them isolated and missing medical care. SafeLIGHT partnered with municipalities to provide free and discounted rides for essential trips, offering more than 2,000 rides and hosting outreach events to promote the program. Participants used the service for doctor visits, groceries and banking, restoring independence and reducing stress. "This program has been a godsend," said one social worker, noting its impact on residents with health issues.
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