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City of Dover (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Improved wayfinding
└ Improved wayfinding
The City of Dover wanted to spread the word about its North Street/West Street trail, a bikeable route developed from two smaller trails, constructed with state funding. The new route connects several major neighborhoods, as well as a medical center and employment centers, including Dover's Enterprise Business Park. Hoping to attract plenty of cyclists and pedestrians, Dover's Public Works Department installed signs along the trail. All are situated near street intersections and inform people about the route's existence, as well as which turns they need to make to remain on the route. Since refurbishing the West Street portion of the trail in 2018, Dover has continued to promote cycling for mobility. In 2020, the city published a comprehensive bike and pedestrian plan, which focused on underserved neighborhoods and reducing traffic stress.
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See More Projects Like This One
Clarksville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: To encourage people to park their vehicles and travel on foot, the City of Clarksville installed signs near underutilized parking lots, which display directions and walking times to destinations around downtown. The hope was that knowing the time commitment for walks would give pedestrians confidence they could manage city distances comfortably. At its Shop Small Saturday event in 2020, the City set up a booth to talk with passersby about the signs. Project organizers reported shoppers were surprised to learn how short walks were from destination to destination. The signage is part of a larger effort to promote active transportation -- such as walking and biking -- in Clarksville.
Woodbine, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: To create a sense of place in the downtown Historic District, Woodbine Main Street designed and installed a dozen interpretive signs. The signs -- which volunteers placed on downtown buildings -- communicate historical facts, as well as local cultural context and human-interest stories. Project organizers say the placemaking initiative turns the district into an outdoor museum. Woodbine Main Street features the signage in its series of walking field trips -- part of the organization's efforts to improve walkability throughout Woodbine.
Seattle, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: The Pike Market Food Bank, part of Seattle's landmark Pike Place Market, provides free meals, groceries, healthy activities and other assistance to more than 5,000 low-income and unhoused residents. But the food bank's location in the Market parking garage -- one floor below street level -- made it difficult to find. Staff worried this discouraged those in need from using the food bank's services. To solve this, the organization installed directional signs on exterior walls and near elevators to guide people to the site. Additionally, grant funds helped the food bank to paint its interior, making it more welcoming to clients.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Dover, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: This project installed three bicycle repair stations along the Capital City Trail and outside the public library.
New Castle County, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, staff at the Latin American Community Center knew they needed to begin outreach efforts to ensure that New Castle's Latino communities received information about staying safe. Most of our community are essential workers, so it has affected us greatly, said Alicia Dominguez, community engagement coordinator for the ConneXiones initiative. We have clients who are positive in COVID and aren't able to work, The Center conducted a community assessment and developed an action plan. They then held pop-up testing sites and vaccination events, which reached many residents. In addition, LACC supported programs to connect residents to food assistance and rent or mortgage relief.
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