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Greater Chatham Initiative (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Busy intersections along 79th Street posed serious safety risks for pedestrians, including older adults, in one of Chicago's high-crash corridors. To slow traffic and improve visibility, the initiative installed colorful pavement art at key crossings and trained local youth to assist with the work, giving them new trade skills. Residents say the redesigned intersections feel safer and easier to navigate. The project is expected to reduce pedestrian accidents and has sparked plans for similar improvements along the corridor, reinforcing efforts to make the area safer and more vibrant.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Jenkins, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Cracked sidewalks along Jenkins' main corridor made trips to the library, pharmacy and city hall risky for older adults in nearby housing. Appalshop repaired walkways and added wheelchair ramps, restoring safe access to essential services. A striking Luna Moth mural now anchors the corridor, symbolizing resilience after the 2022 flood and offering a space for reflection. Residents say the upgrades let them walk with confidence and reconnect socially, while the improvements set the stage for future projects like the planned Tanglewood Trail.
Truth or Consequences, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Main Street Truth or Consequences set out to improve the walkability of downtown Truth or Consequences. The small New Mexico city got its name from a 1950s TV show and is known for its colorful annual fiesta that features a parade, calf roping and a rubber duck race on the Rio Grande. This project replaced deteriorated sidewalks and reduced tripping hazards. The organization also created its Walk Downtown outreach program to encourage residents to take up walking. Walking remains a popular activity in Truth and Consequences thanks in part to the three-mile-long Healing Waters Trail, which starts and ends downtown.
Dallas, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: This project introduced temporary public space interventions to start a community conversation about the pedestrian experience. First, local nonprofit buildingcommunityWORKSHOP held a public meeting to identify challenging conditions along Marilla Street, including obstructed sidewalks, narrow walkways, tripping hazards and absent curb cuts. They then set up a booth at a community event to ask residents about their experiences navigating downtown Dallas on foot. Based on their learnings, buildingcommunityWORKSHOP created colorful, portable ramp units and installed them on local sidewalks, making them ADA-compliant. This demonstrated to the community the value of walking accessible routes. Organizers plan to use learnings from the pop-up project to engage local elected leaders on accessibility and walkability issues.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Unsafe sidewalks and crossings near 87th and Stony Island left older adults hesitant to walk and feeling isolated. Black Cornerstones audited 253 intersections, gathered resident stories and launched the Reimagine Stony Campaign. The effort produced a detailed walk plan, formed a walking club and hosted a block party to share findings. These steps sparked ongoing safety improvements and inspired similar efforts in other neighborhoods. One participant, age 84, said, "I used to be afraid to walk around my block, but now I feel safe and connected to my neighbors."
Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: A six-block stretch along a busy bus route lacked benches, leaving older adults without a place to rest while waiting for transit. The council installed a hexagonal tree bench near a major stop, offering shaded seating where none existed before. Volunteers assembled and maintain the bench as part of park cleanups. "They were amazed that anyone had thought to provide this welcome addition," said a volunteer, reflecting community gratitude. The bench now offers a permanent, comfortable spot for community members to wait for buses or enjoy the park.
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