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Judy Weston Garden (2025) | AARP Livable Communities Map

Judy Weston Garden (2025) Print

2025 AARP Community Challenge Grantee

Project Category

Transportation
└ Walk Audits

Pedestrian routes near a community garden and a senior center raised safety concerns for people walking in the area, especially older adults navigating busy intersections and uneven sidewalks. Limited shared information made it harder for residents to pinpoint risks and advocate for change. Judy Weston Garden organized walk audits and community outreach to document conditions and gather firsthand observations from older adults and students along the route. The effort included meetings, training and a simple digital tool that allowed individuals to assess the walk independently and share concerns. The work increased awareness of specific hazards and helped connect residents with local groups already focused on safer streets, strengthening collaboration around next steps for improving pedestrian access.

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

Philadelphia, PA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Uneven sidewalks, obstructed curb ramps and short crossing times on Girard Avenue limited safe travel for older adults and people with mobility challenges. Two community-led walk audits engaged more than 20 participants and produced a report with recommendations on curb ramp repairs, clearer crosswalk markings and better signal timing. The process strengthened ties with city agencies and made officials more responsive to unified community input. A near-miss when a driver ran a light underscored urgency and helped build support for long-term corridor improvements.

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

Greenville, SC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Residents in Berea, including many older adults, faced daily risks when walking along wide, high-traffic roads with limited pedestrian infrastructure. LiveWell Greenville responded by leading listening sessions and walk audits that engaged residents in documenting conditions near the community center, a major retail corridor and busy trail crossings. Participants observed blocked sidewalks, unsafe crossings and poor access to bus stops. One team member described the main corridor as a jarring experience built for fast-moving traffic rather than people. Findings were compiled into a community report that guided a new Neighborhood Connectivity Team, creating a clear roadmap for improving safety and building local capacity to continue advocating for safer walking routes.

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

Albany, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: In Albany's South End, unsafe streets and concerns about violence make walking risky for residents who rely on it as their main transportation. To address this, the organization led 10 walk audits across key blocks, engaging 27 older adults to pinpoint hazards and recommend improvements. Findings will guide advocacy for safer streetscapes and violence prevention. One participant said she was thankful someone was doing an audit in her neighborhood, which she felt was often overlooked.

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

Montclair, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Housing Design Competitions

Description: Skyrocketing housing costs and property taxes left older adults with few options to remain in their neighborhoods. To address this, Montclair Gateway launched a design competition for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), drawing 31 submissions from architecture students. Six winning designs were exhibited publicly and added to an online resource library, giving homeowners practical plans for age-friendly housing. The effort sparked local ADU applications and informed state policy discussions. "We want to keep our elders close to us at this point in our lives and in their lives," said one homeowner.

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

Montclair, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Digital navigation skills

Description: Older adults in Montclair faced digital literacy gaps that left them vulnerable during emergencies. The project trained 40 participants to use smartwatches for alerts, fall detection and SOS features, supported by peer navigators and additional equipment. A best practices report and an online video reinforced learning. Over 90% of participants rated the program "very beneficial", reporting greater confidence and awareness of life-saving tools. One trainee said smartwatch feedback "alerted me to a balance problem" and prompted her to seek professional help.

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

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