Fargo, ND

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Pedestrian Safety

Description: Folkways focused on a downtown intersection where worn pavement and faint crosswalk markings made it harder for people walking, including older adults, to cross safely. The unclear layout limited visibility and reduced driver awareness in a space with steady foot traffic. Working with a local artist and community volunteers, the project installed a ground mural with clearly marked crosswalks and painted bump-outs that visually calm traffic. Residents of different ages took part in the installation, reinforcing the street's role as a shared space. The finished mural improved crossing visibility, helped slow vehicles and created a recognizable landmark that supports ongoing community use and stewardship.

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

Brookings, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Pedestrian Safety

Description: Downtown Brookings faced unsafe intersections where fast traffic and poor visibility made it difficult for older adults to cross between parking, housing and key community spaces. The project installed high-visibility crosswalks, painted bump-outs and center-of-street signs that slowed turning vehicles and clarified right-of-way. Volunteers helped paint the designs, strengthening community ownership while creating clearer, more predictable crossings. Residents soon reported that cars slowed or stopped more often, making daily trips feel safer. The changes also encouraged people to walk more and use nearby destinations with greater confidence. These improvements are expected to guide future investments, from long-lasting materials to potential redesigns as the area evolves. Personal stories from residents highlighted how the project made it easier for older adults and families to navigate downtown, showing how simple safety upgrades can create lasting benefits.

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

Dearborn, MI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Pedestrian Safety

Description: Near housing for older adults, crossings were hard to see at night and in bad weather, discouraging residents from walking and raising crash risk. The city installed flashing crosswalk signs at high-risk locations to improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians. Residents report feeling safer and more willing to walk to nearby destinations. The city will track before-and-after crash data and gather resident feedback, then use both to decide where to add safety upgrades next. The goal is targeted protection at crossings that residents adults rely on, supported by data and lived experience rather than broad claims of impact.

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