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Highlanders Boxing Club (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Walkability
└ Walkability
Highlanders Boxing Club organized walk audits to address street safety concerns and promote walkability for older residents. The events brought older adults and youth together to identify hazards and learn about safer routes, creating a sense of community while raising awareness. The effort sparked plans for ongoing walks, with one participant saying the experience "was a true blessing" because it gave her a chance to connect after long periods of isolation.
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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Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Busy intersections near a new commuter rail station posed safety risks for pedestrians, including older adults. The project conducted walk audits at four hazardous crossings and gathered input from nearby residents. Weekly walks and a workshop mapped risks and built partnerships for future improvements. Findings informed city proposals for upgrades such as sensors to monitor near misses, while plans for art and landscaping aim to create a safer, more inviting environment for people traveling on foot or bike.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Staten Island, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Transportation Alternatives addressed safety concerns along Staten Island's Richmond Terrace corridor through walk audits that identified hazards like poor lighting and uneven sidewalks. The effort prompted lighting upgrades on six blocks, sinkhole repairs and plans for a bus shelter near Snug Harbor Cultural Center. These improvements have made the area safer and more inviting, with one resident saying better lighting and clear walkways would make her "more inclined to take walks with her family to local parks and facilities."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Lincoln, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Residents along Lincoln's 11th Street faced unsafe crossings and heavy traffic, leaving older adults and families vulnerable. Civic Nebraska organized six walk audits covering eight intersections, surveyed residents and hosted an open house with city staff to spotlight hazards. Volunteers, including older adults, gathered feedback that shaped the 11th Street Corridor Improvement plan. The effort forged a partnership with Lincoln Transportation & Utilities, ensuring future projects reflect lived experience and giving residents a stronger voice in street safety.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Colton, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Disaster Resilience Other
Description: Disaster preparedness training and emergency kits will be delivered through community and virtual sessions. The effort will help participants prepare for wildfires, floods and extreme heat.
Fontana, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: The City of Fontana wanted to motivate its residents to incorporate walking into their daily routines. To do this, the City launched its Fontana Walks program, with the goal of recording two billion steps taken by locals in a year, equaling roughly 1 million miles. Participants registered and received a pedometer and water bottle to help them get going. The City then held its inaugural community walk, which attracted with 100 participants, with hundreds more lacing up their shoes over the next few months. To keep the momentum going, the City created a website with tips and motivation for walkers. The City has continued to host monthly community walks, each featuring a theme.
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