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The Nature Conservancy (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Trails
└ Trails
The local chapter of the Nature Conservancy hoped to make the Manchester Cedar Swamp -- a popular nature preserve within Manchester's city limits -- more accessible to visitors of all ages and abilities. To do this, the group built the 1.2-mile All Persons Trail, which they designed to be level and unsloping. The trail is wide enough to accommodate two wheelchairs or two people with guide dogs. To help people with low vision navigate, project organizers created an audio tour app in English and Spanish. The Conservancy also installed benches and interpretive signs along the path.
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Jackson, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Trails
Description: Extreme heat and limited amenities on Jackson's Museum Trail made outdoor exercise risky for older adults, especially in neighborhoods lacking recreational spaces. To address this, the foundation installed two shaded resting areas with benches, bike racks and trash receptacles. These were placed near a gateway sign and native garden, creating inviting spots for trail users. These additions encourage more frequent use and provide safe places to pause during long walks. "The new benches were much needed... now I can sit and watch people and wildlife," said one resident, underscoring the project's role in fostering independence and community connection.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
East Hartford, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Trails
Description: To improve its South Meadows Greenway trail network, Goodwin University created a wheelchair accessible picnic area. The University installed four picnic tables with seating in a location overlooking the Connecticut River. In collaboration with the East Hartford Senior Center, university officials then hosted trail walks with the goal of increasing healthy outdoor recreation for residents of the largely industrial City of East Hartford. Goodwin's campus is located on a former EPA-designated brownfield site, which the school cleaned up. Through its improvements to trails, the university hopes to improve livability in East Hartford.
Lakeland, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Trails
Description: Lakeland's Dixieland neighborhood lacked a safe route for older adults to reach Drane Park and nearby shops. The Hillcrest Street Connection added ADA ramps, striped crosswalks, speed humps and flashing beacons at key intersections. They also installed wayfinding signs linking three major walking and biking routes. These upgrades slowed traffic and improved safety, making it easier for residents to walk and connect with the broader trail network. As one neighborhood leader said, "The two speed bumps and the new crosswalk improvements have made this safer for both motorists and pedestrians."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Hopkinton, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Contoocook Village lacked safe sidewalks and crosswalks, limiting walkability and raising safety concerns for residents who rely on accessible routes for health and independence. To address this, the town organized four walk audits with more than 20 participants, including the police chief, to document hazards and prioritize fixes. These audits sparked community awareness and laid the groundwork for improvements such as new sidewalks, visible crosswalks and traffic calming measures. Findings will be compiled into a report for municipal and state officials. "I was amazed at the lack of walkability... and I am optimistic that something can be done," said the police chief.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Goffstown, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: The five-and-a-half mile Goffstown Rail Trail connects the town's three commercial areas. To help trail users navigate, Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail erected new signs with information about nearby businesses and facilities, as well as tidbits of Goffstown history. Since installation, business owners along the trail have reported more visitors in their shops. And as Goffstown plans for a future trail expansion, the signs have helped build community buy-in and attract donations to fund that project.
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