East Bridgewater, MA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Trails

Description: Healthy East Bridgewater -- a community coalition convened by the Old Colony YMCA -- sought to improve connectivity and accessibility along the Hiking Viking Trail. Established in 2015, the trail features a 5-mile walking loop linking Bridgewater's town hall to the YMCA and other locations. Project organizers installed five new benches along the pathway, added signage to help people find their way and installed boardwalks to level out a portion of the walkway. To welcome visitors, they then hosted an October Pumpkin Walk, which drew about 400 participants. Since completing the improvements, organizers say they've seen increased community interest in the trail and its amenities.

Grafton, WV

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Trails

Description: Grafton's Three Bridges Loop lacked safe sidewalks and resting spots, forcing walkers-especially older adults-to navigate muddy shoulders or streets. The city installed two benches and directional signage along the route and celebrated the improvements with a community event. These additions, paired with a new sidewalk and lighting, gave residents a safer, more accessible walking path. Older adults in assisted housing can now walk to a grocery store, and residents praised the project as "a beautiful addition" to the area.

Glidden, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Trails

Description: Glidden's Northland Park features a mile-long trail system that winds through natural grasslands, a butterfly garden, picnic areas and more. But the park sits across a major roadway from another popular site -- the city's aquatic center. To improve connectivity, City officials set out to create a way to walk from one to the other. They installed more than 600 square feet of additional sidewalk and created a crosswalk across Highway 30, complete with flashing crossing signs to alert drivers of pedestrians.