Gassaway, WV

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Trails

Description: Older adults using the 73-mile Elk River Trail lacked safe places to rest, limiting their ability to enjoy long walks or bike rides. The need was clear when a man in his 90s built a makeshift seat to pause during his daily mile-long walk. Partnering with the state's natural resources division, the Foundation installed 13 benches across multiple trailheads. Volunteers poured concrete pads for durability. The benches have prompted a walking club and a second "first-day walk" event, encouraging regular activity. One participant said, "As I get older, I need a place to sit down and rest a while before I move on," underscoring the benefits of this project.

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

Deer Lodge, MT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Trails

Description: To give residents a new way to access Deer Lodge's commercial district, the Powell County Parks Board built a trail connector linking up a park in the town's residential area. To enable construction, the County worked with a landowner to secure a public access easement through his property. Then the County's road crew donated its time, labor and equipment to prepare the site, installing and relocating culverts. Additionally, the Board hired a contractor to build fencing along the easement, creating a border for the trail. Before, residents had to walk along a 45-mile-per-hour highway to reach businesses and the local medical center. But since construction, Deer Lodge has continued to improve its trail system, which the City has identified as an essential feature of its ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.

Portland, OR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Trails

Description: Southwest Portland's lack of sidewalks forces older adults to navigate unsafe streets, limiting independence and access to essentials. To address this, SWTrails installed 55 new signs and replaced 196 damaged ones along its 46-mile volunteer-built trail network, making routes easier to follow. Volunteers, many age 60-plus, committed to ongoing maintenance, ensuring trails remain safe for walking and transit access. These improvements enhance mobility and reduce isolation for residents who rely on trails for daily travel. One user shared, "I now use these trails to get to my bus stop since there are no sidewalks in our area."

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