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Bethlehem, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Trails
Description: As part of its efforts to bring public art to the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy created a mural along the trail in the Town of Bethlehem. Project organizers chose a local artist from a pool of applicants to paint the mural, which depicts a surreal landscape and adorns a formerly graffitied wall. Since then, the Art on the Rail Trail (ART) initiative has installed several more murals, as well as a mini art gallery and arts programming. The trail is popular with pedestrians and cyclists in warm weather and cross-county skiers and snowshoe hikers in the winter.
Sandpoint, ID
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Trails
Description: After acquiring a new, 180-acre forest property, organizers with the Kanitsu Land Trust wanted to ensure people of all ability levels could enjoy it. So they created an all-abilities trail to draw visitors to the site. Pine Street Woods now boasts half a mile of accessible walkways, as well as four new benches. Since completing these improvements, the Land Trust reports an uptick in trail use, with over 100 visitors per day in summer 2020. The trail now serves as an example to municipal leaders of how to address accessibility challenges that limit outdoor access for those with mobility issues.
Gassaway, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Trails
Description: This project will provide benches at approximately one-mile intervals along a trail. The new seating will join a dozen newly added benches, which have proven popular with older hikers.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Portland, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Expanding HighSpeed Internet
Description: Community Partners for Affordable Housing set out to close a digital access gap for older adults living on extremely limited incomes. Many could not afford home internet or devices, so tasks like booking appointments, applying for benefits and staying in touch moved out of reach. Resident leaders flagged outdated computers and weak Wi-Fi in shared rooms as barriers. The project upgraded three properties with video-ready computer stations and secure, no-cost Wi-Fi, posted clear instructions and held on-site events where residents enrolled in skills training. The improvements let residents access services without leaving home and build confidence using online tools, supporting greater independence and connection.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Portland, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Resources about housing options, safety and services
Description: Metro HomeShare created online outreach and educational training modules to familiarize community members with homesharing. The organization helps match homeowners with people looking for a shared housing arrangement. Making information about the benefits and compromises associated with homesharing virtual helped Metro HomeShare grow its program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the shift to digital allowed the organization to move other aspects of its operations online, including outreach surveys, quality of life metrics and client match profiles.
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