Houston, TX

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Two walk audits will examine a short corridor connecting older adults to local community services. Resident input will guide the placement of lighting and rest stops.

Canton, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Canton faced unsafe walking conditions at downtown intersections where long crossings, poor yielding behavior and inconsistent sidewalks created challenges. The committee conducted a walk audit documenting blocked sightlines, winter access issues and uneven routes. Volunteers shared firsthand accounts of inaccessible crossings, reinforcing the importance of addressing pedestrian safety for all residents. The audit produced a prioritized list of high-risk locations and recommendations that now guide planning and grant efforts.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Choteau, MT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Older adults in Choteau often struggled to reach essential places because of uneven sidewalks, scarce curb cuts and hard-to-navigate intersections. City leaders often lacked data to address these daily obstacles. Walk audits invited residents to identify hazards and document heavily used intersections with the AARP Walk Audit Toolkit. Sharing results with the community sparked dialogue about challenges tied to reaching the post office, library and pharmacy. One participant described walking in the street during winter due to bad sidewalks, later saying she was grateful to have her experience recorded as part of a broader effort. The data is now informing planning discussions and future funding applications that aim to create safer routes and guide long-term improvements.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.