AARP Eye Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
See More Projects Like This One
Swanton, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: As part of efforts to redevelop its downtown, the Village of Swanton has worked to makes streets more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. To build community support, the Village staged a one-day traffic calming demonstration. Using hay bales and planters, the community created a barrier to separate the village's parking area from travel lanes, which successfully slowed down vehicle traffic. They also created bump-outs to shorten the distance needed to cross the street and make pedestrians more visible to passing drivers. During the pop-up, residents had the opportunity to make suggestions for long-term streetscape improvements. Following the demonstration, the Village planted trees along busy streets as a traffic calming measure. The Village also established a task force to look at other opportunities for future demonstration projects to test street infrastructure improvements.
St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: To demonstrate safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, Trailnet created a pop-up parklet kit for its Traffic Calming Lending Library, making it available for use around St. Louis. They then installed a parklet at Laclede and Vandeventer Avenues. Occupying what would otherwise be street parking spaces, the elevated platform features seating and greenery. The parklet's positioning shortens the distance needed to cross the street by 11 feet, making crossing easier for pedestrians. Trailnet also added striping to the intersection's crosswalk to improve its visibility. Additionally, the organization added bike and scooter parking nearby. Originally a temporary installation, Trailnet permanently installed a parklet at the intersection in 2020. The result is a safe resting place for cyclists and a community gathering place. Trailnet hopes the completed project will be a blueprint for intersection safety improvements throughout the region.
DeRidder, LA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The City of DeRidder set out to improve walkability, allowing residents to reach cultural amenities and social opportunities on foot. They worked to install accessible sidewalks, paint crosswalk to make them more visible and add wayfinding signage downtown. The city's core is home to government offices, a public library branch, a theater and art gallery and a regular farmers market, as well as a pocket park and downtown pavilion.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Annapolis, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: Organizers with Annapolis Arts District wanted to create a safer, more bikeable community. To improve the bikeability of the neighborhood, they added artistic bike racks. Additionally, they installed share the Road signs and painted sharrows on the pavement to warn drivers about cyclists sharing the roadway. Project organizers say the efforts helped restart stalled efforts to complete a bike master plan for Annapolis.
Annapolis, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities
Description: The center will translate materials on conflict management into Spanish and distribute to non-profits serving the Hispanic community, enhancing community inclusion and acceptance of individual differences.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages

Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities

Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter

Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP Maryland State Office
200 St. Paul Place
Suite 2510
Baltimore, MD 21202
United States