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Fort Wayne, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Trail users often passed Stillwater Hospice without knowing its prairie and pond were open to the public, and the existing path was inaccessible for people with mobility challenges. The project installed ADA-compliant curb cuts, flattened a steep curve and added a cement pad for bike racks, a trash can and doggie pot. New directional and educational signs now guide visitors and highlight prairie features. A retired cyclist noted that she rides past this area all the time but did not know about the pond or prairie until the new signs and ADA ramps went in, and that she looks forward to returning. These changes are expected to boost community walks and bike rides starting from Stillwater Hospice.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Sioux Falls, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The City of Sioux Falls hoped to encourage residents to consider active transportation -- walking and biking -- as a way to get around. To do this, the City created a quick-build infrastructure kit, which it used to install a temporary protected bike lane at one location and a curb bump-out at another. The bump out -- a safe extension of the sidewalk into the street -- makes pedestrians more visible to drivers and shortens the distance needed to cross the street. City planners gathered feedback from cyclists in the community, who suggested possible future locations for protected bike lanes. Because the infrastructure kit is mobile, the City hopes to deploy it elsewhere in the future.
River Falls, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: A deteriorating intersection identified as a high-risk crash area posed safety challenges for pedestrians and cyclists, including older adults living nearby. The project installed high-visibility crosswalk markings, upgraded buttons with auditory signals and added bollards to create a protected bike lane and pedestrian corridor. Public art and a "paint the pavement" event engaged volunteers and raised awareness. These improvements made the crossing safer and more accessible, connected residents to downtown and trails and informed future bike and pedestrian plans.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Mosier, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Following a 2016 oil train derailment and fire that shook their small town, Mosier residents transformed loss into renewal by creating a new community center with a commercial kitchen at its core. The City purchased and installed key equipment to prepare meals for older adults, run a food pantry and help entrepreneurs develop local food products. Volunteers, including older adults and retired chefs, guided the design to meet community needs. A former mayor described the kitchen as "the heart and soul of the new Mosier Center," a place that will bring people together over shared meals while strengthening local health and opportunity.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Glenwood, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Disaster Preparedness
Description: Glenwood faced rising wildfire threats that left many older adults unsure how to evacuate or prepare their homes, a serious concern in a rural area with limited resources. Mt. Adams Resource Stewards held a "Wildfire Town Hall" where residents signed up for emergency alerts, learned home hardening steps and asked questions of the fire chief. They also created a durable preparedness brochure featuring an evacuation map, a kit checklist and local support links, placing it in high-traffic spots for ongoing access. The brochure's wide distribution and the Town Hall conversations are expected to prompt more residents to take practical steps that strengthen local readiness, and the group plans follow-up events to sustain momentum.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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