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Cairo, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: In rural southern Illinois, older adults faced unsafe walking conditions with missing sidewalks and overgrown paths, forcing them into streets to reach parks and stores. CHESI organized walk audits across three towns, engaging 37 residents, including many age 50-plus, to review 100 blocks and document hazards. Participants met with local leaders to push for improvements and raised awareness of pedestrian safety. The effort sparked advocacy campaigns and scheduled meetings with mayors. This laid the groundwork for safer sidewalks and crosswalks and inspired future livable community projects.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Wrightsville, AR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: To make streets safer and more accessible for pedestrians, the city will hold walk audits to identify improvements to sidewalks and crosswalks.
Dover-Foxcroft, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Central Hall Commons set out to address unsafe walking conditions downtown, where broken sidewalks, missing handrails and unreliable crossing signals pushed pedestrians into traffic. This made routine trips risky for older adults and people with limited mobility. Walk audits of Monument Square and Union Square documented steep sidewalk slopes, gaps at private properties, a crosswalk near an accident-prone intersection and signals that failed or were missing. One walker said confusion at crossings led them to "jump out ahead of vehicles," showing how failures shaped dangerous behavior. The project produced a formal audit with fixes, from repairing signals and closing sidewalk gaps to adding benches and traffic-calming treatments. The work elevated pedestrian safety in public decision-making. It is intended to influence near-term fixes and the scope of future improvements that better support older adults and other residents.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Two V-shaped benches will be installed at a busy park entrance near transit and parking. The seating will provide a safe place to rest, help people transition from the street to the park and support easier access for those needing a break.
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project will establish an accessible link between a park and a nearby commercial corridor, featuring a paved path, lighting, benches, landscaping, public art and signage. The effort will improve safety and walking access for older adults.
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