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City of Madison (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Trails
└ Trails
The spot where a popular pedestrian and bicycle path connects with Leopold Community School has needed repairs for years. The Cannonball Path's entrance was cracked and overgrown with weeds. To make the gateway to the path more welcoming, volunteers laid new concrete, planted native perennials alongside the path, added interpretive signage and installed solar lighting. New benches give people a space to sit and to appreciate the sculpture that adorns the trail entrance. The artwork depicts a fiddlehead fronds -- an homage to the local ecology. Today, the space gives educators the opportunity to teach students about local wildlife and also acts as a drop-off location for parents escorting their children to school. Project organizers say the improvements are part of community-wide efforts to give people more resting spaces along local trails.
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See More Projects Like This One
Hidden Springs, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Trails
Description: Hidden Springs has an extensive network of scenic trails along Dry Creek. But when the ground is wet during winter and spring, the trails become muddy, leading to erosion and sustainability issues. To allow people to use the trails year-round, the Hidden Springs Town Association created an all-weather path. Volunteers laid road mix along four miles of existing trails to connect main roads to the riparian areas, a community farm and agricultural fields. Today, the system welcomes hikers of all ages in all four seasons.
Boligee, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: The rural town of Boligee lacked parks, walking trails and sidewalks. Recently, the Town purchased the former junior high school property and repurposed it into a recreation complex, which hosts classes and community events. To give residents an outdoor gathering space, this project created a new trail and garden onsite. Volunteers cleared a path for the trail and installed brick pavers. They also added raised flowerbeds and benches to give visitors a place to rest and socialize. Additionally, organizers installed a roof over an unused concrete slab, transforming it into a pavilion. The Town now invites older adults to tend to the flowerbeds. Organizers say they hope the trail and garden foster improved community health.
Belleville, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: Belleville turned an unused fenced lot into a pocket park to address the lack of green space in its dense neighborhoods, where many older adults lacked outdoor recreation. The project added a walking path, pollinator garden, rock garden and art display areas, with volunteers planting native species and painting rocks. A ribbon-cutting event invited residents to celebrate the new space, which now hosts health fairs and cultural activities. Participants were thrilled, with one saying that they can't wait to host events here, signaling how this transformation fosters connection and creativity.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Madison, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: The Realtors Association addressed the lack of affordable and accessible housing options for older adults in Madison, where rising costs and limited land made it harder for longtime residents to stay in their communities. The ADU design competition brought together partners across the housing sector and drew strong engagement through an open house and a broad online campaign. These efforts sparked new conversations about accessibility, sustainability and affordability in small-scale housing. The project also encouraged continued collaboration, with next steps focused on presenting top designs to city leaders and pursuing pre-approval to streamline construction for residents.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Monticello, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Trails
Description: Monticello lacked safe, connected routes for walking and biking, limiting older adults mobility and social engagement. The project installed four bike racks, 12 wayfinding signs, three ADA-compliant benches and painted crosswalks. In addition, six trees were planted, creating shaded rest areas and safer paths. Volunteers, many age 50-plus, helped with installation, and a ribbon-cutting drew 400 attendees. These upgrades encourage outdoor activity, reduce isolation and boost tourism, while setting a model for rural communities to prioritize age-friendly infrastructure.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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