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Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Trails
└ Trails
This ADA-accessible trail project aims to make the country's largest urban old-growth forest fully accessible for people with limited mobility.
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Monticello, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Trails
Description: To connect two multiuse trails with Monticello's downtown, this project will add bike racks, wayfinding signage, benches, bike lanes crosswalk paint and new trees.
Natick, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Trails
Description: This community engagement initiative sought to identify solutions to allow older adults and people with mobility issues to use off-road trails in Natick. Project organizers met with town staff ahead of two focus groups with older adults, who shared their experiences with local trails. Additionally, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council created an online survey to collect more feedback. Older adults said their main concerns were access to bathrooms, personal safety, clear signage, availability of parking near trailheads, even walking surfaces and benches to sit on. MAPC then held a placemaking event at the Natick Community-Senior Center. Attendees could walk along a prototype trail with photos of planned upgrades and hear from MAPC staff. Participants also had a chance to share their personal stories about the things they've discovered while hiking. The result was a list of practical, low-cost action items the town can use to improve Natick's pathways.
Worcester, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Trails
Description: Organizers with the Vermont River Conservancy wanted to allow people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the newly created North Branch Cascades Trail. To make the one-mile route accessible, they worked with a professional trail builder to make the path ADA-compliant. Additionally, VRC added amenities including benches, picnic tables and a privy. To help visitors navigate, they created trail maps and added wayfinding signs marking scenic overlooks and swimming holes along the trail. The improved trail has a gentle grade, which allows people who use wheelchairs to roll all the way to the river's edge. This is something many trails can't offer since river access often involves a scramble down a steep bank. Organizers say the North Branch Cascades Trail has since inspired conversations about how to increase accessibility at other hiking routes in the region.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Evansville, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: This project painted the intersection of North Main and West Michigan streets to improve visibility. It also repaired sidewalks and curbs on nearby streets, where there is a high percentage of older adults.
Owensboro, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a destination for music lovers but accessibility features for people of all ages and abilities. The facility added an audio guide to their tours which help visitors with visual or hearing impairments experience exhibits with an accompanying audio narration. To access the guide, patrons can either use a smartphone app or borrow an audio player and disposable ear buds provided by the museum. The system also offers sign language tours, and the museum has induction loop technology for visitors with hearing aids. Visitors simply select an exhibit number -- identified with new signage -- to access in-depth stories and historical details.
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