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Raymore, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: As part of efforts to establish Raymore's Municipal Circle as the heart of the community, the City of Raymore created a paved crosswalk. Before, visitors to nearby municipal buildings crossed at unmarked points, leading to safety concerns. To further increase a sense of public safety, they City added lighting. Additionally, they installed park benches nearby to give pedestrians a place to rest. Foot traffic in the neighborhood has increased in recent years -- a new community event space opened nearby and more development is expected. City officials also hope the crosswalk project serves as a pilot for improving walkability in other parts of town.
Fort Wayne, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: To encourage walking, cycling and other forms of active transportation, Active Living Indiana worked with Team Better Block to install a temporary traffic-calming plaza on Columbia Avenue. Located near Fort Wayne's greenway, the site featured blue-and-white crosswalk striping, public art installations, foliage and a temporary, bright purple bike path offset from traffic by cones. In order to show residents how changes to the streetscape can make walking safer, the organizations also hosted an event promoting active communities. There, attendees could take in live music, enjoy local food vendors, play street games and experience the traffic calming interventions in-person. Project organizers say they hope the pop-up demonstration will be a springboard for more permanent street redesigns in the future.
Benton, AR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Benton city officials wanted the crosswalks in its downtown district to reflect the grandeur of the city's elegant courthouse building, located nearby. First, the City compiled four possible designs for new-artistic crosswalks. Then they reached out to residents via social media, asking them to vote for their favorite option. Nearly 2,000 responded, with the initial vote so close that the City had to hold a runoff. After the tiebreaker, they then installed two wide, visually compelling crosswalks showcasing the winning herringbone pattern.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Milton, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Many older adults lacked reliable transportation to medical appointments, creating delays in care and added stress for people who could not drive. The project formed a nursing-transportation partnership that offered an on-demand ride option managed through a virtual platform and supported by a phone line for scheduling. Volunteers trained as care coordinators helped residents request rides, and vouchers were set aside for medical and dental trips. The effort raised awareness about gaps in transportation and prompted plans to build a sustainable model that expands travel training and partnerships. One resident said, "It's comforting to know there are people out there who can be called upon in times of need," reflecting how the service eased concerns about accessing care.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Milton, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: The project addressed the lack of places in Milton to rest while walking or waiting for rides, which made it harder for older adults and other residents to stay active or use public transit. The project installed three benches, which were placed near transit stops and community destinations. This gave travelers comfortable spots to pause during daily trips. The benches quickly became gathering points where residents waited for buses, rested between errands and visited with neighbors. One user called them "a blessing," noting how they helped people who rely on transit manage their routines with more ease.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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