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Louisville Metro Government (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
At a width of 150 feet, Louisville's Ninth Street had the feel of a thoroughfare. To improve the street's safety and aesthetics, Louisville Metro Government upgraded sidewalks, painted bars to make crosswalks more visible to drivers and changed signals to give pedestrians more crossing time. To give people a space to rest, they added benches to an underused green space in the median, the site of an existing sculpture. Doing so created a public space for residents declared that a place to sit and rest in the area was one of their preferred amenities. Organizes say the project has sparked conversations about how to continue improving the pedestrian experience on Ninth Street. Louisville is now exploring adding bike lanes, as well as bump-outs to make crossing distances smaller. "We want to redesign this corridor with people in mind and not just cars, Gretchen Millikin," director of advanced planning, said.
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Fort Wayne, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Fort Wayne's Wells Street corridor lacked safe crossings and inviting spaces, leaving pedestrians vulnerable. The project improved three crosswalks and activated unused areas with seating, lighting and planters. Volunteers built furniture and hosted events that fostered social connections and safer movement. One organizer mentioned that residents now request more gatherings and using the new furniture and planters, leading to a better sense of community.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Birmingham, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: In recent years, Birmingham's historic 4th Avenue Business District recently earned a designation as a National Monument for Civil Rights. Organizers hoped to help residents and visitors safely explore the neighborhood on foot. First, organizers conducted a walk audit to evaluate the area's pedestrian infrastructure and identify ways to improve walkability. They then worked with an artist to design pavement murals for each corner of a busy intersection, which volunteers helped paint on the pavement. The colorful sidewalk bulbouts make the crosswalk more visible to drivers, increasing pedestrian safety. Each mural pays tribute to the area's culture and history. Organizers say the placemaking effort also supports wider downtown revitalization plans. The area -- which is home to many Black-owned businesses -- hosts outdoor activities in the summer, including music and arts programming and community service days.
Shawnee, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: For years, officials in the City of Shawnee heard complaints from residents of the historic Jefferson Terrace neighborhood about vehicles speeding and running the four-way stop sign at an intersection. To reduce vehicle speeds and increase pedestrian safety, the City replaced the ignored stop signs with a mini traffic circle, the first of its kind in Shawnee. The City collected data traffic speeds and volume before and after the circle's installation, which proved that although traffic counts remained the same, vehicular speeds slowed down. The success of the project has inspired Shawnee officials to consider similar traffic calming interventions at other locations.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Louisville, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project made a series of placemaking improvements to the Woodlawn Avenue business district, located in the Beechmont neighborhood. First, the Center for Neighborhoods added pedestrian-level lighting along the street to improve safety. They also converted three parking spaces into an outdoor cafe space. Originally meant to be temporary, the picnic area's popularity spurred project organizers to create Louisville's first permanent parklet in the spot, which includes a deck, seating, a green wall and planter boxes. Beautification efforts also included activating a nearby alleyway. That included painting a mural for the space, which community members named Beechmont Alley. New, accessible parking spaces helped make the corridor more welcoming to people of all ability levels.
Louisville, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: A neighborhood plan for Louisville's California neighborhood recommended traffic calming interventions to make walking safer for residents. City officials hoped to improve pedestrian access between the local senior center and amenities including a park, gym, church and community center. The City converted three intersections from two-way to four-way, increased the size of stop signs for better visibility, installed speed bumps and painted crosswalks. They also rebuilt a sidewalk to incorporate accessible ramps for those with mobility issues.
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