Poplar Bluff, MO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Trails

Description: The project will add a connector trail for walking and biking, enabling residents to get to the Mark Twain National Forest.

Stratford, CT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Trails

Description: To increase walkability, this project updated and digitized maps of 12 walking routes and installed four benches along the routes. The town hosted a kickoff event to encourage people of all ages to walk more often.

Wilton, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Trails

Description: The Town of Wilton built ADA-compliant walkways along the bank of Souhegan River. The walkways connect restaurants and a veterans park to Wilton's downtown core. Part of planned improvements to the Wilton Riverwalk, the new walkways transformed a preexisting walking path into downtown's first accessible pedestrian route. After the Town secured funding for the improvements, a local telecom company donated an easement for the project. Organizers say Wilton is working to boost its local economy and position itself as a place where people can come to enjoy shopping, ecotourism and cultural events. Part of that effort is remaking the downtown into a walkable environment that caters to pedestrians instead of cars. Since then, the Town has continued revitalization efforts, and recently added a downtown marketplace for local artists and musicians.