Muskogee, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Cracked, overgrown sidewalks in one Muskogee neighborhood forced residents with mobility challenges into the street, turning routine trips into safety risks and limiting independence for older adults. Sheena's Helping Hands organized community walk audits to document hazards along local walking routes, with older adult volunteers, residents and business owners helping capture on-the-ground conditions. The findings highlighted broken pavement, blocked paths and unsafe crossings that made wheelchair and cane use difficult. One participant recalled how a wheelchair user had to push herself to the store using her foot and repeatedly enter traffic because sidewalks were impassable, adding, "We feared for her safety." The audit results were shared with city leaders and public works staff, providing concrete evidence to support complaints and future repairs and strengthening local advocacy for safer pedestrian access.

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

Cairo, IL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: In rural southern Illinois, older adults faced unsafe walking conditions with missing sidewalks and overgrown paths, forcing them into streets to reach parks and stores. CHESI organized walk audits across three towns, engaging 37 residents, including many age 50-plus, to review 100 blocks and document hazards. Participants met with local leaders to push for improvements and raised awareness of pedestrian safety. The effort sparked advocacy campaigns and scheduled meetings with mayors. This laid the groundwork for safer sidewalks and crosswalks and inspired future livable community projects.

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

New York, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Older adults navigating dense city neighborhoods often face hidden accessibility barriers, from uneven sidewalks to businesses that are difficult to enter. Without clear, shared information, these obstacles can limit independence and everyday movement. AXS Lab addressed this gap by hosting three community mapping events that invited residents to document real-world accessibility conditions using walk audits and digital mapping tools. Participants reviewed streets, parks and businesses and contributed hundreds of observations based on lived experience. The effort supported conversations with local officials and community partners and helped businesses better understand accessibility needs. By turning on-the-ground knowledge into shared data, the project strengthened community awareness and created a foundation for ongoing advocacy focused on improving access for older adults.

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