Pittsburgh, PA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Pittsburgh's Bloomfield District has two busy intersections which lack stoplights. To make crossing the street safer, the Bloomfield Development Corporation worked with neighbors to design artistic crosswalks. Volunteers then painted the bright designs onto the pavement to make the crossings more noticeable to drivers. During painting days, project organizers talked to residents about the importance of pedestrian infrastructure. Since adding the artwork, the organization has hosted walks to observe local birds and trees. In addition to making the area more walkable, organizers say the project helped build intergenerational connections in a neighborhood that's home to older adults and young adult newcomers.

Honolulu, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Organizers at the Waikiki Community Center at originally planned to beautify Waikiki neighborhoods by painting utility boxes with cultural images. When that project got derailed due to permit challenges, they pivoted to do much needed sidewalk safety and repair -- something local older adults identified as a community need. The Center led a campaign to educate residents of Waikiki on pedestrian safety and worked with volunteers to patch and repair more than 100 damaged areas of sidewalk. Volunteers also beautified the area along sidewalks by refreshing or replacing planter boxes.

Macon-Bibb County, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Using public art, Bike Walk Macon set out to improve pedestrian safety in three high-traffic corridors near community centers. First, project organizers gathered feedback from residents of the East Macon, Pleasant Hill and South Macon neighborhoods. They then commissioned two local artists to design on-street murals and artistic crosswalks. With help from volunteers, the artists painted the designs onto the pavement during three Open Streets events. Organizers say they compiled lessons learned from the placemaking initiative into a toolkit for future traffic calming projects. And since creating the crosswalks, Bike Walk Macon has completed similar interventions in other neighborhoods.