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Jenkins, KY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Cracked sidewalks along Jenkins' main corridor made trips to the library, pharmacy and city hall risky for older adults in nearby housing. Appalshop repaired walkways and added wheelchair ramps, restoring safe access to essential services. A striking Luna Moth mural now anchors the corridor, symbolizing resilience after the 2022 flood and offering a space for reflection. Residents say the upgrades let them walk with confidence and reconnect socially, while the improvements set the stage for future projects like the planned Tanglewood Trail.

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

Tallahassee, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Speeding along Dempsey Mayo Road endangered pedestrians near a school and a local community where older adults lived. Existing crosswalks in the area lacked visibility. To improve safety, the project installed three raised, art-enhanced crosswalks using durable thermoplastic designs. It engaged more than 150 residents age 50-plus in the planning process. The upgrades slowed traffic and encouraged walking while accelerating county safety plans. Officials called the effort "a major win for the community," and a toolkit now enables similar projects elsewhere.

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

Truth or Consequences, NM

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Main Street Truth or Consequences set out to improve the walkability of downtown Truth or Consequences. The small New Mexico city got its name from a 1950s TV show and is known for its colorful annual fiesta that features a parade, calf roping and a rubber duck race on the Rio Grande. This project replaced deteriorated sidewalks and reduced tripping hazards. The organization also created its Walk Downtown outreach program to encourage residents to take up walking. Walking remains a popular activity in Truth and Consequences thanks in part to the three-mile-long Healing Waters Trail, which starts and ends downtown.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Shafer, MN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: Artistic benches will be placed along trails and key areas throughout the sculpture park. The new seating will allow visitors, especially adults age 50-plus, to rest while viewing outdoor art and walking the grounds.

Brooklyn Park, MN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: The City of Brooklyn Park hoped to improve the accessibility of its community events, making them more welcoming to residents with mobility challenges. So the City invested in portable mats, which event organizers can lay down to create a 360-foot accessible pathway. Additionally, the City purchased outdoor chairs to flank the path. Meant to be used across the community, the mats and chairs are easily stored and transported between event locations by city staff.

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