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Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
This demonstration project had the goal of calming traffic and improving the streetscape for pedestrians. Downtown Sioux Falls used paint to create temporary bumpouts -- or curb extensions -- at a local crosswalk, which shortened the distance pedestrians spent in the street. They also used large planters to create a physical barrier between pedestrians and cars and added reflective delineators to make crosswalks more visible at night. A camera installed onsite helped capture data about traffic and pedestrian behavior during the pop-up project. The result: Drivers actually slowed down said Joe Batcheller, the organization's president. The project helped reduce speeds by 20 percent on average. Project organizers say the demonstration sparked a cultural shift around pedestrian safety. Since the pop-up, the City has painted curb bumpouts in other locations.
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Fort Wayne, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Trail users often passed Stillwater Hospice without knowing its prairie and pond were open to the public, and the existing path was inaccessible for people with mobility challenges. The project installed ADA-compliant curb cuts, flattened a steep curve and added a cement pad for bike racks, a trash can and doggie pot. New directional and educational signs now guide visitors and highlight prairie features. A retired cyclist noted that she rides past this area all the time but did not know about the pond or prairie until the new signs and ADA ramps went in, and that she looks forward to returning. These changes are expected to boost community walks and bike rides starting from Stillwater Hospice.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Carlsbad, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: This project set out to beautify Carlsbad's downtown and make walking safter. To do this, organizers repainted crosswalks with thermoplastic materials, which are designed to withstand the sun's rays. Over time, the crossing lines painted in many intersections had faded under the sun. The new crosswalks are more visible, which improves safety by helping drivers spot pedestrians crossing the street. Project organizers hope the improved streetscape draws more people downtown, supporting the local economy.
Charleston, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The West Ashley Greenway in Charleston is an eight-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail, which is popular with walkers, runners and cyclists. However, the greenway crosses several busy streets, leading to accidents between vehicles and pedestrians. To fix this, a team of volunteers created three artistic crosswalk murals, designed to calm traffic. They also installed signage which reminds drivers to look out for people crossing the roadway. "Community members need to be able to get access to places without driving, and to feel safe when they're walking and biking," project director Katie Zimmerman said. "Doing this even in small ways will get more people active and out of their cars."
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Sioux Falls, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The City of Sioux Falls hoped to encourage residents to consider active transportation -- walking and biking -- as a way to get around. To do this, the City created a quick-build infrastructure kit, which it used to install a temporary protected bike lane at one location and a curb bump-out at another. The bump out -- a safe extension of the sidewalk into the street -- makes pedestrians more visible to drivers and shortens the distance needed to cross the street. City planners gathered feedback from cyclists in the community, who suggested possible future locations for protected bike lanes. Because the infrastructure kit is mobile, the City hopes to deploy it elsewhere in the future.
Sioux Falls, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: A one‑day winter market in a downtown area will be tested with heated tents, seating and clear pathways. The event is designed to help people gather comfortably outdoors in cold weather.
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