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Ithaca, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Walk audits will examine sidewalk and crossing conditions near Ithaca’s downtown bus stations. Findings will inform design and placemaking efforts that support safer travel for older adults.
New York, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Along a major Open Street in Queens, older adults rely on the corridor for daily walks yet report confusion and safety concerns tied to inconsistent signs, fast bikes and uneven pavement. Selfhelp Community Services organized five walk audits with older adult volunteers from nearby co-ops, documenting issues such as limited seating, neglected plantings and blocks needing street and sidewalk repair. A long-time resident who was previously hit by a car joined all five walks, excited to make a difference in the community. Findings were delivered to transportation officials and elected leaders as redesign and budgeting decisions advance.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Jacksonville, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Mayport Village faced safety risks from missing sidewalks, forcing residents to walk in traffic. A walk audit documented these gaps and engaged experts in mobility and design to strengthen credibility. Findings will be presented to city officials to push for safer streets and improved walkways aligned with Jacksonville's vision plan. One recalled walking with a stroller in the street to vote, saying cars honked and yelled at her- an important reminder of why these changes matter.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Dearborn, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Pedestrian Safety
Description: Near housing for older adults, crossings were hard to see at night and in bad weather, discouraging residents from walking and raising crash risk. The city installed flashing crosswalk signs at high-risk locations to improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians. Residents report feeling safer and more willing to walk to nearby destinations. The city will track before-and-after crash data and gather resident feedback, then use both to decide where to add safety upgrades next. The goal is targeted protection at crossings that residents adults rely on, supported by data and lived experience rather than broad claims of impact.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Detroit, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To give older adults a space where they can interact with local children, Eden Gardens Block Club converted two vacant lots into an intergenerational playground. Ahead of the project, the Edens Garden surveyed residents about their preferences, with 80 percent of respondents asking for exercise equipment for older adults. Volunteers then worked to clear the site and install playground apparatuses, including swings, a see-saw bouncer and a cardio walker. Organizers say the space is now a source of community pride for the community.
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