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Town of Jackson (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Engaging people in transportation options/safety
└ Engaging people in transportation options/safety
To make its car-oriented downtown more pedestrian-friendly, the Town of Jackson held a design workshop to test ideas for improvements to the town square. Held at a local senior center, the workshop allowed town staff to show older residents photos of downtown and get their feedback. The Town then incorporated suggestions from the workshop at a Park(ing) Day event. They converted a parking space into a parklet with outdoor furniture, planters and bike racks. In addition, they offered trishaw rides around the square during the event and for a few weeks afterwards. Town staff interviewed older adults at the event, asking about ways to make downtown more walkable. Organizers then reported what they heard to the town council to inform future improvements. Project organizers say the workshop and Park(ing) Day event built relationships with older adults, which will help keep them involved in the community design process going forward.
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Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: This project creates a traffic calming lending library in Milwaukee, giving residents the power to try out traffic safety designs on their street so they can understand what options would most effectively address their concerns.
Batavia, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: Local officials and community organizations hoped to increase pedestrian and bicycle traffic in downtown Batavia. To do this, the Batavia Environmental Commission, Batavia Bicycle Commission, the WellBatavia Initiative and Batavia Maitreet undertook a research and promotional campaign. They hosted a walk and bike audit that taught residents urban biking skills, such as how to load a bike onto a public bus. The initiative then paired participants with residents of a local retirement community, as well as with families with small children, to help them learn about biking. The group produced a 15-minute video documentary presenting the town's history, showcasing its pedestrian and bike infrastructure and highlighting the need for future improvements. In 2022, Batavia announced it would create a bicycle and walking plan to improve city trails and make intersections safer.
Austin, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: Travel training camps will familiarize older residents with public transit and other transportation options to help them get around without driving. The camps are day-long outings providing hands-on experience with biking, public transit, using scooters and walking.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Jackson, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: As part of efforts to activate a new green space in downtown Jackson, the Jackson Hole Land Trust commissioned local artists to design benches for the space. All three benches meet ADA accessibility standards, with designs that encourage visitors to sit, touch and climb. Project organizers installed the seating ahead of a grand opening celebration for the Greenspace on the Block, a conservation easement that features walking trails and provides an outdoor venue for community activities.
Jackson, WY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Residents of a Jackson housing complex -- including several dozen older adults and people with disabilities -- had an unappealing wait for the bus. The local bus stop was surrounded field of weeds and littered with trash and debris, including an abandoned car. To make matters worse, it had no place to sit. To give bus riders a more comfortable wait, the Jackson Hole Senior Center cleared weeds and trash from the site. They then leveled out the site and installed an artistic bench with a garden area behind it. During construction, neighbors volunteered their labor. Going forward, they also offered to help clear the site of snow in the winter and maintain the landscaping. After installation, the Town agreed to place a second bench at the bus stop across the street.
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