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Wake Forest, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Older residents faced safety and mobility challenges when walking through town, including missing sidewalk connections and obstacles that made short trips less predictable. These gaps limited independence for older adults and others with physical challenges, especially near housing, schools and shopping areas. The Town of Wake Forest addressed the issue by conducting a series of walk audits in different parts of town, starting downtown. Older volunteers documented barriers and identified specific improvements needed to make walking safer and more continuous. Findings were compiled into a presentation for planning staff and elected officials. One audit revealed a sidewalk that stopped short of connecting affordable housing to nearby shops, forcing residents to walk in traffic. That example helped inform discussions tied to the Age-Friendly Action Plan and future decisions about sidewalk connectivity and pedestrian investment.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Indianapolis, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: This project will conduct four walk audits at nine intersections to identify sidewalk and crosswalk improvement needs. Older volunteers from senior housing will participate.
Phoenix, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: A key Phoenix corridor lacked safe, walkable conditions, creating hazards for older adults who rely on it as a primary route. To address this, TigerMountain Foundation led a walk audit that identified broken sidewalks and poor crossings, engaged volunteers and added several hazards to the city's official repair list. The project educated residents on how to report issues and spurred interest among officials to prioritize fixes. TMF used the city's 311 system to escalate forgotten repairs, ensuring improvements move forward.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Jamestown, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Many older adults in Jamestown needed clearer guidance and simple tools to make their homes safer, especially when mobility challenges increase fall risks. The group expanded its planned sessions into five well-attended events and a two month library display that offered home safety education, low cost products and the option to book personalized home visits. Weekly visits grew from these sessions, and residents received items like night lights, grab bars and toilet handles at no cost. One woman said she could not believe the team would install toilet handles for her without charging, and others expressed similar gratitude. Partnerships with the library and community groups will support continued safety fairs, displays and ongoing home visits that help older adults stay safer and more confident at home.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
East Providence, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The City of East Providence set out to support intergenerational activities in a dense residential neighborhood. To achieve this, they made improvements to a park frequented by residents of all ages. The City installed benches, ADA-accessible picnic tables and game tables in Central Avenue Park. The improvements allow grandparents to sit and watch their grandchildren play in the park's splash pad, older adults to engage youth in a game of checkers or chess and families to enjoy a picnic together. Organizers say the project helped East Providence realize the final elements of their recently completed parks master plan.
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