Bronx, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: To highlight the importance of green spaces, Friends of Mosholu Parkland cleaned up a neglected area of the parkland. The area lies along the Mosholu Parkway, a landscaped highway connecting two parks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the gardens became a respite for community looking for a safe, outdoor gathering space. Volunteers expanded an azalea garden and revived the Jerome Garden Plaza. In addition, the organization worked with a local artist to design and install banners celebrating the Parkland. The banners played off the metaphor of an aquarium, which represented residents confined within their apartments during the COVID-19 pandemic, separated from the parkland below like fish behind a glass barrier. Project organizers say these initial improvements have since attracted additional investment in the Mosholu Parkland.

New York, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Reconnect Communities

Description: Busy roadways, extreme heat and aging infrastructure have made everyday walking difficult for many older adults, limiting access to transit, green space and daily errands. Transportation Alternatives addressed this by bringing residents directly into neighborhood walk audits that focused on real conditions older adults face, from uneven sidewalks and unsafe crossings to lack of shade and seating. Participants documented barriers and assets using a structured worksheet that made it easier to share concerns without relying on technology or direct advocacy. The walks turned lived experience into usable evidence that is now informing street planning and safety discussions. In one neighborhood, extreme heat during the walk underscored the urgency of climate-resilient pedestrian design. By centering older adults voices, the project strengthened civic confidence and created a clear path for place-specific improvements that support safer walking for people of all ages.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.