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Civic Nebraska (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Walkability
└ Walkability
Residents along Lincoln's 11th Street faced unsafe crossings and heavy traffic, leaving older adults and families vulnerable. Civic Nebraska organized six walk audits covering eight intersections, surveyed residents and hosted an open house with city staff to spotlight hazards. Volunteers, including older adults, gathered feedback that shaped the 11th Street Corridor Improvement plan. The effort forged a partnership with Lincoln Transportation & Utilities, ensuring future projects reflect lived experience and giving residents a stronger voice in street safety.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Cracked sidewalks and unsafe curb ramps along Washington Avenue made walking hazardous for older adults and people with mobility challenges. The coalition organized walk audits, trained volunteers and captured nearly 1,000 images to document issues, mapping them for public access. Surveys revealed widespread concerns about accessibility and safety. These efforts built momentum for a citywide sidewalk plan and proposals to repair curb ramps, while fostering collaboration among residents, businesses and city officials to create safer, more walkable streets.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Auburn, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: High-speed corridors and limited accessibility made walking unsafe for older adults in Auburn, yet community input was missing from early design stages. The city organized walk audits where older residents and schoolchildren identified hazards and shared priorities for safer streets. The effort produced design data for two state-funded projects and a future funding request. One participant, who is legally blind, highlighted barriers during the walk, giving others firsthand insight into accessibility challenges and shaping plans for improvements.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Lynn, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Older adults in Lynn faced unsafe sidewalks and poor street conditions that limited access to the Northern Strand Trail and transit options. To address this, Bike to the Sea led three walk audits with about 30 participants, including residents and city officials, to document hazards and rate conditions using worksheets. Findings were shared in local media and the AARP Bulletin, sparking conversations about safety signage and infrastructure upgrades. "We all need to work together to make sure the streets are safe", said one resident, underscoring the push for lasting improvements.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Lincoln, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Transportation Other
Description: Crews will build a permanent pedestrian refuge island within an existing crosswalk. The island will allow people to cross in stages, improve driver visibility and make crossing the busy roadway safer.
Lincoln, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: Many older adults lacked the digital skills needed to use online tools that now shape daily life, from email and maps to accessing health care and financial information. Lincoln City Libraries addressed that gap by offering hands-on technology classes and individual help that focused on practical tasks participants asked about. Sessions covered computer basics, mobile device use and online safety in an interactive setting where learners worked side by side. One attendee described the classes as "very interactive" and said instructors showed them how to complete tasks in real time. By building confidence and embedding ongoing support into library services, the project helped older adults feel more capable navigating an increasingly digital world.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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