AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
River Region Trails Inc. (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Montgomery's Old Cloverdale neighborhood is a historic area with beautiful, wide streets and compelling architecture but limited sidewalks and crosswalks. To address this, River Region Trains Inc. engaged in a two-week pop-up placemaking event. Using cones and paint, they set up temporary, protected pedestrian lanes on two major connector streets in the neighborhood. Along with two existing lengths of sidewalk, the lanes formed a 2-mile loop, wide enough to accommodate multiple walkers, bikers, runners and people riding scooters. Organizers say the project demonstrated the power of creating walkable streets and encouraged residents to get involved in how their streets are designed and built.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Kapolei and 'Ewa, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: New curb extensions on Kopolei's Papipi Road not only help local children safely navigate their route to school, they also remind passersby of their rich Hawaiian history and culture. Over the past five years, daily traffic on the road increased 50 percent, with many drivers exceeding the posted speed limit. To calm traffic, Hawaii's Blue Zones Project installed bulb outs at an intersection, which safely extend the sidewalk into the street. This shortens the street crossing distance for pedestrians and makes them more visible to drivers. To make the curb extensions even more noticeable, volunteers used paint to depict limu in shades of gold and green on the pavement. Limu are edible, underwater plants -- a vital component of Hawaiian cuisine and ceremonies for generations.
Sutton, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The Town of Sutton is home to a popular community garden and vibrant farmers market, but the two were cut off from each other by a busy street. To help residents take advantage of both amenities, Sutton Community Development Corporation connected the spaces by adding a crosswalk. Volunteers painted the crossing's pavement with bright colors, making it more visible to passing drivers. They also planted flags along the path between the garden and market to guide people from one to the other. Additionally, the CDC improved gathering spaces at the garden and market. They added tables and seating to the garden space to allow people to gather there. To improve the market space, volunteers installed string lights and shade sails and cleaned up a state area at the market, which had been damaged in high winds.
Yukon, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Downtown events in Yukon forced older adults to cross a busy four-lane road with short signals and poor sight lines, creating safety risks. The project introduced 10 portable crosswalk signs with flashing light bars, four event parking signs and six sets of pedestrian flags to improve visibility and slow traffic. These quick-action tools made crossings safer and sparked plans for permanent PedFlag installations and sidewalk upgrades, ensuring older adults can navigate downtown events with greater confidence. One person said that these improvements improved her sense of safety and made it easier to access the garden with peace of mind.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Montgomery, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Drivers in Montgomery can't help but slow down when they approach the crosswalk on busy Mulberry Street. The crossing features solar-powered, pedestrian-activated crossing signals as well as a pavement mural -- all of which calm passing traffic and improve pedestrian safety. After calling on residents to submit their ideas for the mural, the City's traffic engineers painted the crossing to look like a troll bridge. Connecting a residential neighborhood to the local elementary school, the crosswalk depicts a wooden bridge with a mom, dad and baby troll hanging on its sides. The bridge allows students to safety get to school and also enables pedestrians to traverse Mulberry Street's many small businesses. We had about 30 designs submitted for the crosswalkand all of them were delightful, but the Hardy design made the whole selection committee smile, Lynda Wool, a senior planner for the city of Montgomery, told Design Alabama.
Montgomery, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: An ADA accessible riverfront stage with seating, lighting and wayfinding will be constructed. The venue will support live music and other public events.
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 has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Alabama State Office
400 South Union St.
Suite 100
Montgomery, AL 36104
United States