Coos County, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Trails

Description: The Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail is an 83-mile bicycle route that runs between Woodsville, N.H to Bethel, Maine. Stitched together from existing rail trails, dirt roads, and paved backroads, the route winds though scenic river valleys and around the slopes of the White Mountains. To make the route more welcoming to people of all ages and abilities, this project installed benches. Project organizers chose two ADA-accessible sections of the path for the new seating -- the Presidential Rail Trail and the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge. They enlisted the help of two llamas to haul lumber to several scenic spots, then volunteers worked to put the benches together onsite.

Bethel, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services

Description: The Town of Bethel's Age-Friendly Community Initiative created four displays featuring adaptive tools, as well as a catalog with descriptions of each tools and information about where to buy them. One display has been deployed at community outreach events attended by hundreds of residents. Two others are available for nearby communities to borrow for their own events. A local hardware store provided a home for the third display to make adaptive tools available to Bethel residents. In addition, project organizers engaged an occupational therapist to conduct home assessments to help residents determine their risk of falls. Grant funds also supported the local smoke alarm installation and fire escape plan program, conducted in partnership with local fire departments and the Maine Red Cross, as well as the National Fire Protection Association's Be Safe in Your Home initiative.