Somerville, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: This project paired local youth with graduate students to evaluate walkability and bikeability in Somerset. Youth ambassadors engaged with members of their community to identify barriers to walking and biking, as well as opportunities to make active transportation safer and more comfortable. Based on their findings, the students decided to construct a parklet in Somerville's Bound Brook neighborhood. The mini-park -- which sits in the footprint of a parking spot -- extends the sidewalk space into the roadway. The parklet is modular, allowing the student ambassadors to set it up at community events, including weekly farmers market and movie nights. Organizers hope the temporary space offers residents an attractive place to stop, sit and to rest while taking in activities on the street. Youth who participated in the project worked alongside local leaders and made intergenerational connections -- all while learning how to advocate for their community.

Trenton, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Bikeability

Description: The Trenton Health Team wanted to encourage older residents to take up cycling by increasing the community's access to bikes. The organization launched its bike share program, which they geared toward older residents. They obtained 20 bikes, three adult tricycles and a two hand-powered cycles. Then they piloted the bikeshare during Trenton's annual open streets festival. In 2022, the East Trenton Collective offered up a carriage house on its property as a community bike hub for trainings, events, repairs, storage and lending. To spruce up the site, the Trenton Health Team commissioned a fence made of recycled bike parts and artistic bike racks, as well as signage designed by a local artist. The bikeshare is now permanent, with plans to lend out bikes at the community's senior center.