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Town of Lamoine (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Walk Audits
└ Walk Audits
Walking along town roads posed safety risks for older adults and students due to poor visibility and limited signage. To address this, the town conducted walk audits, formed a dedicated committee and distributed reflective vests to all K-12 students and staff. Residents were engaged through newsletters and social media, and findings were shared with the Selectboard, which suggested infrastructure upgrades. The project sparked plans for traffic warning signs and annual safe walking programs. At a school assembly, students wore their new gear all day, and the principal thanked the committee for raising awareness.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Iowa City, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Older adults faced unsafe walking conditions and limited mobility options, making it harder to cross busy streets and stay connected. Two walk audits engaged 65 residents, nearly half age 50-plus, to identify hazards and explore placemaking strategies using AARP worksheets. The workshops sparked partnerships with city and state agencies and positioned the neighborhood to advocate for sidewalk murals, pedestrian triangles and a history trail. Participants said the effort was long overdue, with one noting, "I have been waiting for these kinds of improvements for a long time. This is so important for our neighborhood."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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.
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Residents will conduct 4-6 transit-oriented walk audits in three neighborhoods with congregate housing for older adults. Activities include the audit, bus training, civic engagement coaching, and follow-up.
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Sullivan, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public safety interventions
Description: In Sullivan, where hospitals are up to 20 miles away and heart disease is a leading cause of death, older adults often gather for exercise at the town office. To address the risk of delayed emergency care, Age-Friendly Sullivan installed an automated external defibrillator and partnered with EMTs to train staff and volunteers. The AED is now accessible during classes and community events, and additional training sessions are planned to expand readiness. The Town Manager said, "With this new equipment we can further support our community in a way we had not been able to before."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Sullivan, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: The project addressed the need for a safe, functional gathering space after the community gazebo had deteriorated and become less suitable for events. Crews replaced the old roof, repaired damaged wood, upgraded electrical systems, mitigated mold and refreshed the landscaping to make the structure safer and more welcoming. These changes supported community events and encouraged broader use of the park. Residents began planning expanded music activities. Some older adults gained more reliable access to performances and celebrations. The improvements strengthened the gazebo's role as a central gathering place and prompted continued efforts to improve accessibility throughout the park.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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