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.

Evansville, IN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Trails

Description: Many trails in this urban old-growth forest were inaccessible for visitors with limited mobility, leaving older adults unable to enjoy nature. The project converted 435 feet of degraded trail into a raised boardwalk with safety rails, added an ADA-compliant bench and installed signage. Volunteers age 50-plus helped prepare and build the trail, which now connects the Nature Center to animal exhibits and a towering tulip tree. The upgrade has prompted visits from assisted living groups and mobility device users, inspiring plans for more accessible trails. "We want more!" said one group after experiencing the new Mini-Loop Trail.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

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.