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Hidden Springs Town Association (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Trails
└ Trails
Hidden Springs has an extensive network of scenic trails along Dry Creek. But when the ground is wet during winter and spring, the trails become muddy, leading to erosion and sustainability issues. To allow people to use the trails year-round, the Hidden Springs Town Association created an all-weather path. Volunteers laid road mix along four miles of existing trails to connect main roads to the riparian areas, a community farm and agricultural fields. Today, the system welcomes hikers of all ages in all four seasons.
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See More Projects Like This One
Monticello, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Trails
Description: To connect two multiuse trails with Monticello's downtown, this project will add bike racks, wayfinding signage, benches, bike lanes crosswalk paint and new trees.
St. Croix, VI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Trails
Description: Many trails on St. Croix were impassable after hurricane damage. As part of disaster recovery efforts, Virgin Islands Trail Alliance restored eight miles of rainforest trails. To do this, volunteers cut through foliage, cleared weeds, pulled up roots and raked up debris, allowing the trails to reopen. Additionally, they installed new signage, which help visitors navigate, communicate trail rules and identify tree species. The activation effort also involved installing picnic tables and benches along the path to give people a space to rest. To help visitors access the trails, volunteers cleared parking areas and installed bollards to prevent people from driving vehicles onto the trails. Volunteer workers included participants in a nonprofit program carpentry skills program. Since the restoration, project organizers say hikers and cyclists have returned to the trails.
Newark, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Trails
Description: This project will engage Newarks 50-plus population through interactive events and storytelling sessions to gather input on trails and active transportation.
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Boise, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Through seven pop-up placemaking events, this project enlivened the downtown area with outdoor games and activities.
Boise, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The Idaho Bike Walk Alliance wanted to make walking and biking safer for elementary school students. To do this, they deployed lightweight traffic items around N. 8th Street to reduce driving speeds. The traffic calming equipment included cones -- used to shorten the distance needed to cross the street -- as well as reusable neon signs and plenty of chalk. The Alliance papered the neighborhood with flyers, created a social media campaigns on the project, and met with stakeholders to gain buy-in. They then demonstrated the traffic calming tools over five days in November. An online survey showed community interest in making such features permanent. As a driver, the curb extensions provided greater visibility of pedestrians, one respondent said.
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