Richardson, TX

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: To test solutions for managing traffic and making streets safer for pedestrians and residents with mobility challenges, the City of Richardson conducted a demonstration project in the business district surrounding the Arapaho Center light rail and bus station. Dubbed a road diet, they temporarily removed two motor vehicle lanes, replacing them with bike lanes. They added an artistic pedestrian crosswalk with a blue and red pattern reflecting the City's new Innovation District branding. In addition, they removed curbs, constructed fencing, installed wayfinding signs and added landscaping. Throughout the demonstration the City collected data on traffic levels and speeds, as well as pedestrian and bike trips. They also collected resident feedback and found 78 percent supported keeping the bike lanes and 82 percent were in favor of the new crosswalk. In 2020, the City obtained a 100,000 grant to permanently install bike lanes along the route.

Dallas, TX

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Housing stability

Description: Older homeowners in Dallas risked losing homes because unclear property titles blocked aid and made aging in place difficult. Beloved responded with education sessions and media outreach that reached hundreds of people, helped 10 individuals complete Transfer on Death Deeds and distributed fireproof document keepers to safeguard vital records. These steps prompted families to address tangled titles and secure property rights. One participant, after three years of struggling to fix her fathers deed, said she was "excited there was a partner willing to help," and now has the resources to achieve resolution.