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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.
Baton Rouge, LA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Bicycle and pedestrian activity increased dramatically in Baton Rouge's arts and entertainment district boomed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. To improve safety in the area, the Downtown Development District created 20 high-visibility crosswalks at five different intersections. The crosswalks help drivers notice people crossing the street, decreasing the likelihood of a collision. Additionally, the pavement art acts as a placemaking tool and creates a visual identity for district. It also connected the public to local historical structures, tourist attractions, art and cultural assets, governmental institutions and greenspaces.
Belvidere, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Older adults in Belvidere faced safety concerns on Oxford Street, a busy corridor with no dedicated bike space. The town launched "Bikeable Belvidere," adding a bike lane, sharrows, benches and bike racks to calm traffic and create safe routes for riders and walkers. A ribbon-cutting drew strong community support and sparked plans for a town-wide bike grid. The project also hosted volunteer events and installed ADA-compliant benches, encouraging outdoor activity and social engagement for residents with limited green space.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Nashville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Bringing resident insight and volunteer power into local government
Description: Older residents often want a voice in neighborhood decisions but lack confidence and leadership skills. To bridge this gap, Neighbor 2 Neighbor launched "Ignite Your Neighborhood Passion," hosting five lunch-and-learn sessions led by veteran neighborhood leaders. Participants identified local assets, explored leadership roles and connected with peers. The program sparked commitments to volunteer and inspired community centers to request more sessions. "It is so refreshing to know there is an organization that wants to teach neighborhoods how to come together and get things done," said one attendee, underscoring its impact on civic engagement.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nashville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: With the goal of reducing social isolation for older residents, Urban Housing Solutions designed and constructed a temporary parklet at Mercury Court, a small affordable housing community close to downtown Nashville. The organization outfitted the outdoor space with patio chairs, picnic tables, planter boxes, solar string lights and shade umbrellas. They also repainted a community room and decorated a wall with graphics celebrating the property's history. To ensure the space enables social interaction, a group of residents worked to coordinate social events, such as movie and game nights and community meals. In addition, Mercury Courts residents have shown interest in using the new planter boxes as garden beds. Urban Housing Solutions is a nonprofit housing developer serving Nashville's unhoused and low-income residents.
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