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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.
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.
Lamoine, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Walking along town roads posed safety risks for older adults and students due to poor visibility and limited signage. To address this, the town conducted walk audits, formed a dedicated committee and distributed reflective vests to all K-12 students and staff. Residents were engaged through newsletters and social media, and findings were shared with the Selectboard, which suggested infrastructure upgrades. The project sparked plans for traffic warning signs and annual safe walking programs. At a school assembly, students wore their new gear all day, and the principal thanked the committee for raising awareness.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Compton, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Residents of Compton lack access to greenspace compared to their neighbors in other parts of Los Angeles County. Over several years, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps has worked to create the Compton Creek Natural Park, giving neighbors of all ages a place to gather outdoors. As part of those efforts, the nonprofit hosted a community tree planting event. After receiving training on the importance of native tree species and their care, volunteers worked to removed old trees on the site and replace them with new, drought-tolerant species. Additionally, they planted native vegetation. Organizers say the new park will improve residents' mental and physical health, give them a place to socialize and foster environmental stewardship.
Los Angeles, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: The Los Angeles State Historic Park's team wanted to figure out why older adults in the Chinese community were unlikely to visit the park, even though many live less than a half mile away. To increase engagement with this community, Los Angeles River State Park Partners connected with a key elder who helped with outreach efforts and translation. They then collected survey responses during a food distribution event, which provided information about park use and resource needs. Ahead of that event, they distributed flyers in Chinese advertising a giveaway of collapsible shopping carts. Interpreters were on hand during the gathering and the organization distributed nearly 500 bags of culturally appropriate produce. After the event, the River State Park Partners continued their engagement efforts by offering weekly Tai Chi classes. Project organizers say that since these efforts, more people have visited the park and taken advantage of its programs.
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