Macon, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public safety interventions

Description: Uneven sidewalks and overgrown paths near two Macon schools made walking unsafe for students and older adults. The Path to Success project cleared 25 streets, removed over 100 bags of debris and launched a Walking School Bus for more than 100 children. Older adults joined walk audits and served as porch watchers, creating safer routes and stronger community ties. "It inspires school attendance and safety in our most vulnerable neighborhoods," said the project manager. The effort also influenced local violence prevention planning and sparked interest from other schools, positioning the program as a model for neighborhood safety.

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

Red Lodge, MT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Public safety interventions

Description: The project responded to long-standing accessibility challenges at the Roosevelt Center, where uneven ground kept many older adults from reaching the sculpture garden. The Foundation built a 128-foot pathway designed around existing sculptures, added interpretive panels and installed a durable paving system with help from volunteers. Some residents said they appreciated the effort to create safe outdoor access in an environmentally conscious way. The new route guides visitors to ADA entrances, supports rehabilitation activities for older adults and strengthens local walkability efforts.

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

Shelley, ID

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Public safety interventions

Description: Solar lights will be installed along a 1.5-mile river walk used daily by residents. Improved lighting will extend safe walking hours for older adults during mornings and evenings.