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Township of Belleville (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Trails
└ Trails
Belleville turned an unused fenced lot into a pocket park to address the lack of green space in its dense neighborhoods, where many older adults lacked outdoor recreation. The project added a walking path, pollinator garden, rock garden and art display areas, with volunteers planting native species and painting rocks. A ribbon-cutting event invited residents to celebrate the new space, which now hosts health fairs and cultural activities. Participants were thrilled, with one saying that they can't wait to host events here, signaling how this transformation fosters connection and creativity.
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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See More Projects Like This One
Rossville, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Trails
Description: Rossville lacked safe spaces for outdoor exercise, leaving older adults without options for physical activity away from traffic. Responding to community requests, the foundation built a quarter-mile concrete trail near the fire department and high school, added trees for shade, and installed an ADA-compliant bench for resting and socializing. The new trail offers a safe route for walking and biking, encouraging health and connection. It also sparked plans for expansion and secured funding for future phases, reinforcing the town's commitment to active living.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Philadelphia, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: Cobbs Creek Park's lack of signage and programming left older adults disconnected from nature. The council installed two large kiosks with maps, safety tips and QR codes for resources, and hosted senior-focused events like Jazz on the Creek and a driving safety course. These efforts boosted confidence to explore the park and fostered social connections. The project set the stage for expanded signage and dedicated senior programming to make the park more welcoming and accessible.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Madison, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Trails
Description: The spot where a popular pedestrian and bicycle path connects with Leopold Community School has needed repairs for years. The Cannonball Path's entrance was cracked and overgrown with weeds. To make the gateway to the path more welcoming, volunteers laid new concrete, planted native perennials alongside the path, added interpretive signage and installed solar lighting. New benches give people a space to sit and to appreciate the sculpture that adorns the trail entrance. The artwork depicts a fiddlehead fronds -- an homage to the local ecology. Today, the space gives educators the opportunity to teach students about local wildlife and also acts as a drop-off location for parents escorting their children to school. Project organizers say the improvements are part of community-wide efforts to give people more resting spaces along local trails.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Bloomfield, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: To identify challenges facing pedestrians, the Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services conducted a walk audit. They invited community members to travel through town on foot, logging street features that made walking feel unsafe. Additionally, the Department held public meetings to gather community input. These community engagement efforts resulted in several recommendations to improve walkability. In response, the Department launched its WALK Bloomfield program, which established walking routes meant to be safe and enjoyable. As part of that initiative, the Township installed JobClocks -- special electronic devices -- in seven locations about Bloomfield. This allows walkers carrying a fob to automatically log the time it takes to walk from one JobClock to the next. Overall, organizers hope the efforts grow a pedestrian culture in Bloomfield.
Newark, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Trails
Description: Older adults in Newark often navigate streets and transportation systems that were not designed with aging in mind, especially those without cars who rely on walking or bicycling for everyday needs. Their lived experience is frequently missing from planning discussions, even as safety and independence become more fragile with age. New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition addressed this gap by creating welcoming spaces where older adults could learn about mobility options and speak directly about what works and what does not. A Senior Mobility Fair drew hundreds of older adults to try mobility tools, connect with resources and share stories about moving through the city. The project also partnered older adults with youth to record interviews, videos and portraits, including perspectives from residents with visual impairments. City leaders attended and heard these accounts firsthand, helping ground future mobility conversations in real experiences.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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