Montclair, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: Pedestrian routes near a community garden and a senior center raised safety concerns for people walking in the area, especially older adults navigating busy intersections and uneven sidewalks. Limited shared information made it harder for residents to pinpoint risks and advocate for change. Judy Weston Garden organized walk audits and community outreach to document conditions and gather firsthand observations from older adults and students along the route. The effort included meetings, training and a simple digital tool that allowed individuals to assess the walk independently and share concerns. The work increased awareness of specific hazards and helped connect residents with local groups already focused on safer streets, strengthening collaboration around next steps for improving pedestrian access.

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

Montclair, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions

Description: Skyrocketing housing costs and property taxes left older adults with few options to remain in their neighborhoods. To address this, Montclair Gateway launched a design competition for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), drawing 31 submissions from architecture students. Six winning designs were exhibited publicly and added to an online resource library, giving homeowners practical plans for age-friendly housing. The effort sparked local ADU applications and informed state policy discussions. "We want to keep our elders close to us at this point in our lives and in their lives," said one homeowner.

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