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Bismarck, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: Officials in Bismarck wanted to gauge support for a proposed path connecting downtown to the riverfront, dubbed the Bismarck Central Pathway. This project created a temporary path for pedestrians and cyclists, allowing the City to get feedback from residents over several weeks. In addition to connecting existing sidewalks and trails, project organizers used hay bales, traffic cones and paint to block off a portion of the street for pedestrians and cyclists. To get input, they set up kiosks along the path where residents could write about their experience. They also created an online survey. Residents generally supported making the route permanent, as long as pedestrians are protected from street traffic. The City plants to use the feedback to determine the best route for the new path. Project organizers say the pop-up trail also inspired other pop-ups. Since 2017, Bismarck planning staff have tested a road diet, an intersection bump-out project and a one-way to two-way road conversion.
Fort Myers, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: Streets Alive partnered with four other organizations to hold a bike rodeo event for children in Fort Myers' Dunbar neighborhood. A dozen volunteers completed a training course on how to teach safe cycling skills. Another volunteer worked with Franklin Park Elementary School to obtain a supply of loaner bikes for the young participants. At the event, children went through a series of stations to be fitted with helmets, have their bikes inspected for safety and receive coaching on how to start, balance and stop their bikes. They learned cycling rules of the road, including hand signals and where to ride on the street. They also received training on how to stay safe as pedestrians when crossing intersections and facing traffic. The organization staged another bike rodeo in 2020.
Hendersonville, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: The city will add new bike infrastructure throughout downtown to improve safety and improve connectivity to local attractions. The improvements include sharrows, bike racks and bike repair stations.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Bismarck, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: To build people's knowledge about public transportation, this project created a series of educational videos. The videos teach residents how to use the transit system -- including local fixed-route bus service. Organizers then used the video content in a series of transit workshops.
Bismarck, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Engaging residents alongside thought leaders in problem solving
Description: For decades, Bismarck has welcomed migrants from across the world, including recent arrivals fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine. To strengthen ties between immigrant families and the wider community, Bismarck Global Neighbors hosted a meal. The event was part of the New Immigrant Leadership Program, which seeks to identify and empower rising leaders in the local immigrant community. At the meal, program participants hailing from Mauritania, Nicaragua, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Taiwan and Rwanda shared their experiences. Local leaders -- including city and county officials -- were invited to come, listen and use what they learned to make the community more inviting for all.
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AARP North Dakota State Office
107 W. Main Avenue
Suite 125
Bismarck, ND 58501
United States