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High Line Canal Conservancy (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Walk Audits
└ Walk Audits
Older adults and people with mobility challenges faced barriers accessing a 71-mile urban trail, making safety and usability urgent concerns. The project engaged residents in walk audits and partnered with local university students for a trail-wide accessibility review. Feedback led to a pilot "slow zone" to curb speeding cyclists and informed plans for resurfacing that will widen paths and add ADA ramps. These audits created a model for future engagement, ensuring older adults voices shape trail improvements.
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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Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: This project will conduct four walk audits on streets leading to Jackson Park. Volunteers will audit, assess, and propose solutions with city and county officials.
Lamoine, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Walking along town roads posed safety risks for older adults and students due to poor visibility and limited signage. To address this, the town conducted walk audits, formed a dedicated committee and distributed reflective vests to all K-12 students and staff. Residents were engaged through newsletters and social media, and findings were shared with the Selectboard, which suggested infrastructure upgrades. The project sparked plans for traffic warning signs and annual safe walking programs. At a school assembly, students wore their new gear all day, and the principal thanked the committee for raising awareness.
Akron, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: This project will conduct at least 15 walk audits with a minimum of 15 volunteers, focusing on people age 50 or over. The audits aim to identify areas needing sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Denver, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: The project will conduct eight walk audits in a commercial district to identify sidewalk and crosswalk improvements. The project will also host two community meetings with participants and city officials.
Denver, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Older adults in Denver struggle with transportation and resource navigation, limiting independence and increasing isolation. DRMAC addressed this by expanding its Getting There Travel Training program, offering bilingual sessions and guided bus trips to teach trip planning, ticketing and mobility apps. Surveys showed that many participants felt more confident using public transit. The effort strengthened trust in marginalized communities and improved access to daily needs. One participant said that as a result of the help provided by the program, he is excited to now be able to attend spirit-lifting activities.
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