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Sports Backers (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Hundreds of elementary school students cross busy Lynhaven Avenue each day on their way to school in Richmond's Bellemeade neighborhood. Walk audits and other community engagement efforts have shown speeding and distracted driving are a common issue on the street. To slow down traffic and improve safety, Sports Backers commissioned local artists to create pavement murals at two intersections. Project organizers hope murals catch the attention of motorists, encouraging them to pay attention to the road and slow down.
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See More Projects Like This One
St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Long stretches of Delmar Boulevard lacked safe crossings, isolating neighborhoods and limiting access to businesses. The district installed two pedestrian crosswalks and added vibrant artwork designed with community input. These changes improve safety and walkability while symbolically bridging a historic divide. Residents and business owners collaborated on the design, fostering unity and sparking momentum for future streetscape improvements.
Richardson, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: To test solutions for managing traffic and making streets safer for pedestrians and residents with mobility challenges, the City of Richardson conducted a demonstration project in the business district surrounding the Arapaho Center light rail and bus station. Dubbed a road diet, they temporarily removed two motor vehicle lanes, replacing them with bike lanes. They added an artistic pedestrian crosswalk with a blue and red pattern reflecting the City's new Innovation District branding. In addition, they removed curbs, constructed fencing, installed wayfinding signs and added landscaping. Throughout the demonstration the City collected data on traffic levels and speeds, as well as pedestrian and bike trips. They also collected resident feedback and found 78 percent supported keeping the bike lanes and 82 percent were in favor of the new crosswalk. In 2020, the City obtained a 100,000 grant to permanently install bike lanes along the route.
Grove, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Downtown Grove is expanding, with community events and new businesses drawing more pedestrian traffic. But the area's main intersection consisted of two busy highways and hilly terrain could make pedestrians hard to spot. To make the main business district more walkable for people of all ages, this project added solar-powered flashing beacons at the intersection. Pedestrians wishing to cross the street can press a button to turn on the flashing lights. The beacons alert drivers to people in the crosswalk, making collisions less likely.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Richmond, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Many affordable homes lacked accessibility features, making aging in place difficult for older adults and people with disabilities. To address this, Livability Initiative implemented 57 modifications across five homes. It also trained staff using the AARP HomeFit Guide. Laminated checklists and digital tools were provided to standardize assessments and ensure replicable processes. These changes improved safety and usability while raising awareness of accessible housing. One volunteer said, "Hearing that there are so many low-cost solutions, I'm inspired to make changes to my own home and implement these simple ideas."
Richmond, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Greater Richmond Age Wave Coalition hoped to beautify the Green Park neighborhood and foster relationships between neighbors. To do this, the nonprofit worked to provide community gardening opportunities to residents. To allow older adults to grow produce at home, the nonprofit built 25 garden boxes. Additionally, they created an outdoor courtyard space with raised garden beds at Highland Park Apartments. The Coalition hired local youth to construct and deliver the self-water boxes. The Coalition also held two community gardening events. To help people participate, they offset a portion of public transportation fares for attendees. The Age Wave Coalition's gardening efforts operate under the talent-sharing model, which connects experienced gardeners with people interested learning more about growing fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs.
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