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Sheboygan, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: The City of Sheboygan augmented its downtown historical walking tour by creating a mobile app to teach residents and tourists about the city's heritage. The app was based on StriveOn, a platform designed to tell stories about local places. Additionally, the City installed signs and created printed paper maps for people who don't use smartphones or computers. The effort involved local businesses -- and their unique buildings -- in the tour. Project organizers hope the walking tour gets people interested in historical preservation and increases opportunities for physical activity.
Grand Island, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: Grow Grand Island installed four sculptural, eight-foot-tall wayfinding totems in Railside, an area in the City's downtown. Designed to help visitors learn about Railside and Grand Island's history and art, the totems feature maps and short descriptions in English and Spanish. Each totem is customized based on its location. In addition, the totems include a QR code linking to historical information about the buildings downtown. This online content can be updated when needed. Project organizers say the totems spurred needed repairs for downtown sidewalks and helped garner funding for more wayfinding signs. As downtown grows, organizers say the totems will play an important role in helping pedestrians navigate and appreciate Grand Island.
Carlin, NV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: Carlin -- one of the oldest communities in Elko County -- has suffered economically with the decline of the Southern Pacific Railroad. To preserve its history and attract tourists to town, the Carlin Historical Society installed wayfinding signs promoting its local history museum. The signs sit on two streets in the center of town, as well as at an offramp from Interstate 80. Installation of the signs comes after years of investment into the museum building itself, including repairs to bring the structure up to code and installation of two new museum exhibits.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To increase walkability and create a safe, beautiful gathering space, Avenue CDC engaged a local artist, local schoolchildren and residents to create a 600-foot mural. The wall selected for the artwork was off-putting and had been vandalized many times. But the site also acted as the entry point to the Northline neighborhood, since the wall faces the nearby light rail station. The mural's design pays homage to local Latino culture and the history of the neighborhood. As the mural reached its completion, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and project organizers were able to repurpose leftover grant funds to help with recovery and rebuilding.
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: This project will conduct walk audits along Washington Avenue, a busy commercial district surrounded by residential homes. There will be two training sessions and a final in-person community meeting.
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