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Unionville, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: Farmington improved trail connectivity to Unionville Center, where shops and services were hidden from view. The town installed wayfinding signs, benches, a bike rack and an informational kiosk with a QR code linking to maps and historical tours. Volunteers taught older adults to use the technology, fostering inclusion and engagement. The upgrades encourage walking and biking, boost local businesses and provide resting spots. Residents praised the changes for making trails safer and more inviting for all abilities.
Jackson, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: Jackson's Museum Trail lacked inviting spaces for rest and social connection. The foundation added plazas with benches, bike racks, pet stations, trash cans and murals under the Fortification Street bridge. This helped create vibrant stops along the trail. These upgrades made the trail more welcoming for older adults and families and helped secure approval for future phases. One resident said that he was so excited about the transformation along the newly accessible trail, and expressed how much he now enjoys walking along it with his family.
Stratford, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: Stratford Walks addressed high rates of chronic illness among older adults and limited safe walking options. The town redesigned maps, printed 500 booklets and installed benches to make routes more inviting. A kickoff event and volunteer-led outreach doubled weekly walking club attendance and engaged residents who had been inactive. The program sparked new initiatives like branded signage and integration into a future trails master plan. One caregiver shared that he now realizes how much his patient could enjoy participation in club activities, a reminder of how movement and connection transform daily life.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Leland, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Pedestrian Safety
Description: This project will provide for the installation for eight audible pedestrian signals at a key intersection to enhance safety and mobility for pedestrians, especially those age 50-plus and individuals with disabilities.
Southport, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The stories of those buried in the John N. Smith Cemetery in Southport have never been shared with the broader community. As the only African American cemetery in the region, the John N Smith Cemetery Restoration and Preservation group created an outdoor museum onsite. The museum teaches residents about the racial and economic discrimination that Black members of that community have faced, as well as contributions residents made to the community. Project organizers designed and installed interpretive signage, as well as benches and a display board for public announcements and other information. Designed to be accessible for people of all ages, the space recounts an important part of Southport's history and culture.
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