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Manchester, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Trails
Description: The local chapter of the Nature Conservancy hoped to make the Manchester Cedar Swamp -- a popular nature preserve within Manchester's city limits -- more accessible to visitors of all ages and abilities. To do this, the group built the 1.2-mile All Persons Trail, which they designed to be level and unsloping. The trail is wide enough to accommodate two wheelchairs or two people with guide dogs. To help people with low vision navigate, project organizers created an audio tour app in English and Spanish. The Conservancy also installed benches and interpretive signs along the path.
Jackson, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Trails
Description: Extreme heat and limited amenities on Jackson's Museum Trail made outdoor exercise risky for older adults, especially in neighborhoods lacking recreational spaces. To address this, the foundation installed two shaded resting areas with benches, bike racks and trash receptacles. These were placed near a gateway sign and native garden, creating inviting spots for trail users. These additions encourage more frequent use and provide safe places to pause during long walks. "The new benches were much needed... now I can sit and watch people and wildlife," said one resident, underscoring the project's role in fostering independence and community connection.
Frederiksted, VI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Trails
Description: After hurricanes destroyed the Estate Adventure Nature Trail, St. Croix residents lacked safe walking spaces on an island with few sidewalks. The Trail Alliance rebuilt the pavilion with durable materials, cleared invasive vegetation and created a two-mile shaded trail with benches, picnic tables and historical signage. A new parking area improves access, and the site now hosts hikes and community events. At the opening, attendees shouted "YES!" when asked if they wanted more projects like this, signaling strong demand for safe, green spaces.
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Bridgeport, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: To create community cohesion and connection, Groundwork Bridgeport's walking club hosted three intergenerational walking events in Bridgeport's downtown and along its waterfront. Using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit as a guide, participants helped identify important community destinations, as well as ways to improve the pedestrian experience. They also collected litter as they walked. Before each walk, volunteers placed temporary wayfinding stickers on the sidewalks to help the group navigate. Project organizers say the initiative's popularity demonstrated an appetite for walking activities and pedestrian paths in Bridgeport. Today, the organization continues to host its walking club, which meets every Saturday.
Fairfield, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Older visitors often struggled to access the museum's flagship exhibition on regional history due to limited sight, hearing and language barriers. The project added large-print labels, Spanish translations, closed-captioned videos with audio headsets and a touchable topographic map. This helped create multiple ways to engage with the content. These upgrades have broadened participation among older adults and improved sensory-friendly experiences. Surveys show strong use of the new features, and the museum plans ongoing evaluation to refine accessibility and guide future projects.
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