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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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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.
Kansas City, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Trails
Description: The WeAreMarlborough project installed 16 bike racks and two benches along the Greealk, a new two-mile walking path that winds through Marlborough. The pathway connects residents to three new city parks, as well as rapid transit lines. To meet residents' needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marlborough Community Coalition also erected temporary two Little Free Food Panty locations along the Greealk, one in a local community garden and the other in a pocket park. In addition, the organization hosted activities, including safe biking workshops, a community Halloween celebration. Project organizers say neighbors requested improved greenspace for years -- new amenities along the Greealk represent steps toward a more healthy, active community.
Bangor, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Trails
Description: Residents identified safety and accessibility issues along the Kenduskeag Stream Trail, where overgrown vegetation and poor signage made walking difficult for older adults. The project installed benches, improved parking lot lighting and added a solar-powered pedestrian crosswalk system to enhance visibility and safety. These upgrades encouraged more trail use and social interaction. "Having benches makes the trail more active, which also added to her feeling more safe taking a walk alone," said one resident. The city now plans additional improvements, including interpretive signage and grading work.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
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.
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.
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