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Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Trails
└ Trails
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.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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See More Projects Like This One
Webb City, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: Erosion on the Frisco Trail left a section unsafe for older adults and wheelchair users near Redwood Estates. The coalition built a cement sidewalk, installed signage and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting. The improvement restored safe access and improved driver awareness, making the trail usable for residents with mobility challenges. One resident said that with the new improvements "drivers...are slowing down and more aware of the walkers."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Gulfport, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Trails
Description: The Discover Gulfport Walking Trail system will be completed by adding clear wayfinding and accessibility features along nine miles of walking routes. The project will install directional and name signage, map boards, QR code links to digital trail maps, and handrails at key locations.
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.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Evansville, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Accessibility upgrades such as zero-step entries, grab bars and safer lighting will be added to 16 affordable homes. These improvements will reduce fall risks and support aging in place.
Evansville, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Broken sidewalks and missing curb cuts made everyday walking unsafe for older adults and people with disabilities in northern Jacobsville, limiting access to services and healthcare. Jacobsville Area Community Corporation led sidewalk audits across more than 70 blocks with the city engineer, documenting conditions and creating a system to rank safety concerns and estimate repair needs. A volunteer recalled seeing a wheelchair user forced to turn back at an intersection with no curb cut. By turning observations into documented data, the project gave the city a practical framework to prioritize repairs and plan long-term improvements that support safer walking and independence.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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