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Napoleon, ND

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Trails

Description: The city will add signage and benches along a planned walking and bike trail. The trail will run by a new nursing home, enabling residents with mobility challenges and other disabilities to enjoy nature.

Bath, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Trails

Description: The Whiskeag Trail needed upgrades to serve older adults and reduce barriers for low-income residents. Volunteers widened two miles of trail, installed six ADA-compliant benches and built eight ramped boardwalk bridges. These improvements increased accessibility and sparked plans for universal design upgrades on other sections. One organizer noted that after a conversation with a local older adult, the volunteers added an additional bench to further improve trail walkability.

Portland, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Trails

Description: This project upgraded the Canco Woods trail, making it the first wheelchair-accessible forested trail in Portland. Volunteers widened the trail and smoothed and hardened its surface. They also replaced a narrow footbridge, installed two benches and added signs announcing the trail's accessibility. Inspiration for the project came after conversations with residents about low usage of local trails. These discussions focused on accessibility needs for people who used wheelchairs, walkers, canes and strollers. Now residents who had never visited the trail before are enjoying its pond, wetlands and pine groves.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Milton, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Public or private transit access

Description: This project will conduct a walk audit of 2.75 miles of sidewalks to identify challenges and obstacles. Volunteers will help collect data to improve safety and walkability. The findings will inform the ADA Transition Plan.

Berwick, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services

Description: Older residents in Berwick faced challenges staying independent without access to adaptive tools. The committee launched a Handy Helper Tool Collection with more than 55 items-such as jar openers, grab bars and ergonomic garden tools-available for borrowing at the library. A shelving unit and wheeled bag allowed volunteers to bring the collection to farmers markets and town events. One visitor said that she would look into starting a similar program in her town. The program helps residents remain in their homes longer and raises awareness of practical solutions for aging in place.

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Portland, ME 04101
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