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Montgomery, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Montgomery's Old Cloverdale neighborhood is a historic area with beautiful, wide streets and compelling architecture but limited sidewalks and crosswalks. To address this, River Region Trains Inc. engaged in a two-week pop-up placemaking event. Using cones and paint, they set up temporary, protected pedestrian lanes on two major connector streets in the neighborhood. Along with two existing lengths of sidewalk, the lanes formed a 2-mile loop, wide enough to accommodate multiple walkers, bikers, runners and people riding scooters. Organizers say the project demonstrated the power of creating walkable streets and encouraged residents to get involved in how their streets are designed and built.
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.
Hamtramck, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The Joe Louis Greenway is a planned recreational pathway between Hamtramck and Detroit intended to unify the region's neighborhoods, people and parks. Organizers with Eastern Michigan University hoped to help shape the design for an alleyway connecting to the greenway. They planned a pop-up activation of the alley, turning it into a pedestrian-friendly route and community gathering space. The demonstration featured temporary traffic-calming measures, as well as sidewalk bump outs meant to make crossing the street easier. Organizers surveyed visitors during the demonstration, using their feedback to inform permanent changes to the alley.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Rossville, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Trails
Description: Rossville lacked safe spaces for outdoor exercise, leaving older adults without options for physical activity away from traffic. Responding to community requests, the foundation built a quarter-mile concrete trail near the fire department and high school, added trees for shade, and installed an ADA-compliant bench for resting and socializing. The new trail offers a safe route for walking and biking, encouraging health and connection. It also sparked plans for expansion and secured funding for future phases, reinforcing the town's commitment to active living.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Herington, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: A neglected downtown pocket park lacked accessible seating, leaving older adults and visitors without a place to rest or connect with others. The VFW installed two benches and an ADA-compliant picnic table, which sparked a larger revitalization that added a drinking fountain and improved landscaping. The upgrades turned the park into a hub during the Old Fashioned Fall Festival and a meeting spot for residents. One older man said that he was very appreciative that the organization was stepping up and doing something to make the city more friendly for older adults.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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