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Sheridan, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Trails
Description: The North Main Association wanted to create a picnic area for Malcolm Wallop Trails, formerly known as North Park. To make the area accessible for people with mobility issues, the organization installed an ADA-compliant picnic table with and umbrella. In addition, they placed seven benches along the trails to allow people to rest during their walk or pause to observe deer, birds, squirrels and other wildlife. These improvements spurred the City of Sheridan to improve a parking area near the picnic table and install a sidewalk from the parking lot to the trails. The City also added a new trail to the site in 2021. Since the improvements, project organizers report an increase in visitors to Malcolm Wallop Trails.
Monticello, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Trails
Description: Monticello lacked safe, connected routes for walking and biking, limiting older adults mobility and social engagement. The project installed four bike racks, 12 wayfinding signs, three ADA-compliant benches and painted crosswalks. In addition, six trees were planted, creating shaded rest areas and safer paths. Volunteers, many age 50-plus, helped with installation, and a ribbon-cutting drew 400 attendees. These upgrades encourage outdoor activity, reduce isolation and boost tourism, while setting a model for rural communities to prioritize age-friendly infrastructure.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Hidden Springs, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Trails
Description: Hidden Springs has an extensive network of scenic trails along Dry Creek. But when the ground is wet during winter and spring, the trails become muddy, leading to erosion and sustainability issues. To allow people to use the trails year-round, the Hidden Springs Town Association created an all-weather path. Volunteers laid road mix along four miles of existing trails to connect main roads to the riparian areas, a community farm and agricultural fields. Today, the system welcomes hikers of all ages in all four seasons.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Belleville, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: Belleville turned an unused fenced lot into a pocket park to address the lack of green space in its dense neighborhoods, where many older adults lacked outdoor recreation. The project added a walking path, pollinator garden, rock garden and art display areas, with volunteers planting native species and painting rocks. A ribbon-cutting event invited residents to celebrate the new space, which now hosts health fairs and cultural activities. Participants were thrilled, with one saying that they can't wait to host events here, signaling how this transformation fosters connection and creativity.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Bloomfield, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: To identify challenges facing pedestrians, the Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services conducted a walk audit. They invited community members to travel through town on foot, logging street features that made walking feel unsafe. Additionally, the Department held public meetings to gather community input. These community engagement efforts resulted in several recommendations to improve walkability. In response, the Department launched its WALK Bloomfield program, which established walking routes meant to be safe and enjoyable. As part of that initiative, the Township installed JobClocks -- special electronic devices -- in seven locations about Bloomfield. This allows walkers carrying a fob to automatically log the time it takes to walk from one JobClock to the next. Overall, organizers hope the efforts grow a pedestrian culture in Bloomfield.
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