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Civic Thread (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
└ Engaging residents in vibrant public places
This project will transform a park by staging a vibrant pop-up community celebration and organizing workshops where older adults can become involved in decisions about how to improve their community.
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See More Projects Like This One
Philadelphia, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public spaces improvements to increase high-speed internet availability
Description: The project will equip two senior high-rise apartments with a Wi-Fi network. The signals will be able to reach a nearby intergenerational playground and other outdoor areas.
Green River, UT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The project will build a pavilion at Pearl Baker Park designed to be accessible to older visitors, with hand rails and a soft pathway surface to reduce the potential for injuries from falls.
Wilmington, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: While Wilmington has a thriving bike culture, it lacks bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to connect all parts of the community. To raise awareness of this issue, Urban Bike Project held four open streets events, which closed busy streets to vehicle traffic in different neighborhoods of the city. The reclaimed street space allowed residents to enjoy musical performances, play tennis in the road, pedal free rental bikes, register to vote, get caught up on vaccinations and receive fresh produce and recipes. Additionally, attendees shared their ideas for making streets safer with University of Delaware Living Labs volunteers. The Urban Bike Project plans to use their feedback to inform transportation projects that serve Wilmington residents, many of whom aren't always included in decision-making processes.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
West Sacramento, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Residents of a senior apartment complex complained that the intersection connecting them to a senior apartment complex to West Sacramento's City Hall, senior center, library and transit center was difficult to cross. To help residents safely reach local amenities, the City of West Sacramento installed countdown timers, pedestrian-controlled crosswalk buttons and talking signals. Since the upgrades, the City reports no older adults have been struck by cars at the intersection. And the project's success has inspired West Sacramento officials to incorporate age-friendly elements in other infrastructure projects, including future crosswalk improvements.
West Sacramento, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options
Description: The City of West Sacramento wanted to improve older adults' ability to move independently around the community. First, the City identified barriers that kept residents from embracing new transportation services. Then they set out to make older adults aware of local rideshare and bikeshare offerings. To help older adults understand their options, the City held one-on-one trainings with individuals, as well as group training sessions. Additionally, they mailed informational fliers to residents. Data gathered during the pilot project enabled city staff to better understand how to structure programs in the future to maximize ridership among people of all ages. It also expanded many older adults' ability to run errands, meet up with friends and travel to medical appointments. Now we have options, one resident told city planners.
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