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Shelby Park Neighborhood Association (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Walkability
└ Walkability
Unsafe sidewalks and crossings near a community garden left older adults struggling to navigate an area dominated by interstate ramps and a deteriorating pedestrian bridge. The association led three walk audits, documented hazards and pressed officials for change. They restriped Preston Street to add a bike lane, cleared invasive plants to improve visibility and enhanced the garden entryway with salvaged historic materials. These efforts sparked city and state engagement on redesign plans and gave residents a stronger voice in shaping safer streets. One organizer said "I've personally had many close calls attempting to cross these streets," making the need for improvements clear.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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See More Projects Like This One
LaGrange County, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Without sidewalks, residents and visitors in Mongo walked along a busy county road, creating safety hazards. The project installed more than 70 feet of new sidewalk, linking existing paths and extending a route to the town park. This improvement gives older adults and tourists a secure alternative to walking in traffic and completes a key segment of a long-term plan for safer mobility. It also sets the stage for future expansions so no one has to walk in the street to reach local destinations.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Older adults in Baltimore faced isolation and mobility challenges after the pandemic, compounded by unsafe walking conditions near community spaces. To address this, the organization hosted three walk audits and a health expo focused for older adults, reducing transportation barriers and drawing nearly 100 participants. Feedback revealed hazards like uneven curbs and poor drainage, while the project introduced a toolkit that empowered attendees to spot safety issues. These efforts informed proposals for traffic calming and accessibility upgrades and set the stage for ongoing wellness symposiums that keep older adults engaged and connected.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Cracked sidewalks and unsafe curb ramps along Washington Avenue made walking hazardous for older adults and people with mobility challenges. The coalition organized walk audits, trained volunteers and captured nearly 1,000 images to document issues, mapping them for public access. Surveys revealed widespread concerns about accessibility and safety. These efforts built momentum for a citywide sidewalk plan and proposals to repair curb ramps, while fostering collaboration among residents, businesses and city officials to create safer, more walkable streets.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Louisville, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: To provide a safe, comfortable space for older residents who are waiting for transportation, ElderServe set out to install a bus stop shelter near a popular Senior Center. Work involved pouring a new concrete slab for the shelter to level out the site.
Louisville, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Public safety interventions
Description: The project will clear debris, improve sidewalks, repaint crosswalks and add lighting, gardens and public art on a neighborhood block. Safer, more inviting streets will support walking and shared gatherings near homes and local spaces.
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