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Searsmont, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: This project created new seating, trailhead kiosks with information about the area and new accessible parking spots at an existing riverfront trail.
East Bridgewater, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Trails
Description: Healthy East Bridgewater -- a community coalition convened by the Old Colony YMCA -- sought to improve connectivity and accessibility along the Hiking Viking Trail. Established in 2015, the trail features a 5-mile walking loop linking Bridgewater's town hall to the YMCA and other locations. Project organizers installed five new benches along the pathway, added signage to help people find their way and installed boardwalks to level out a portion of the walkway. To welcome visitors, they then hosted an October Pumpkin Walk, which drew about 400 participants. Since completing the improvements, organizers say they've seen increased community interest in the trail and its amenities.
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.
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: Lifelong housing and accessibility
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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