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South Portland, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Trails
Description: The Greenbelt Trail, which serves pedestrians and cyclists, crosses several busy streets in South Portland. To make those crossings safer, Age-Friendly South Portland conducted a monthlong tactical urbanism project. They painted road delineators to separate cyclists from traffic, along with high-visibility signage to alert drivers to the crossings. Curb bump-outs decreased the distance needed for trail users to cross the street. While the fixtures were temporary, organizers gathered feedback from residents during the demonstration, which they featured in a presentation to the public works department. Project organizers report the project spurred the City to make permanent changes to one crossing.
Dunellen, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Trails
Description: To make the half-mile trail in Columbia Park more accessible, the Borough of Dunellen installed 12 ADA-compliant benches. Volunteers added mulch around each bench and planted trees, shrubs and pollinator-friendly vegetation, with plaques identifying each plant. They also painted a footbridge connecting the part to a residential neighborhood. The project engaged Dunellen's mayor and Borough Council, along with the Dunellen Shade Tree Commission, the parks and recreation and public works departments, the Dunellen Arts and Culture Commission, the Dunellen Senior Club, the local football team and the Dunellen Municipal Alliance. Since installation, the Borough has seen a 44 percent uptick in trails users, as well as a 50 percent increase in older adults visiting the trail.
Millinocket, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Trails
Description: The project addressed the need for a safe, comfortable place where older adults and other residents could gather. This was especially warrented since an important community trail lacked lighting and limited opportunities for regular activity and connection. The project transformed an underused room into a flexible space with new seating, lighting and tables. This created a warm setting for conversation, crafting and small group activities. The renewed room strengthened social ties and offered older adults a reliable and accessible place to reduce isolation and engage with others. Volunteers and patrons said they looked forward to using the space, and individuals with disabilities noted that its accessibility will help them participate more easily in group activities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Colorado Springs, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Trails
Description: Innovations in Aging Collaborative focuses on issues affecting the growing older population in the Pikes Peak area. As part of that focus, IIAC hoped to promote healthy recreational activity and reduce high rates of health problems, such as diabetes. Partnering with local organizations, including the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, Bike Colorado Springs and AARP Colorado, IIAC activated areas around the Sand Creek Trail. This included hosting community creek clean-ups, as well as a mural project involving a local artist and students. Since the activation, the City of Colorado Springs has continued to make improvements to the Sand Creek Trail.
Pueblo, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Housing stability
Description: For years, Posada worked with unhoused residents of Pueblo to help them find temporary and permanent housing. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, however, those served by Posada were even more in crisis, so the organization shifted its resources to emergency needs such as food aid and rent and utility assistance. Posada also began renovating a former motel into single-room-occupancy units for older adults experiencing homelessness. When completed, the former Sunset Motel will include 17 units, and its residents will have convenient access to case managers and supportive services, including health care.
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