Claymont Community Center Awarded Challenge Grant for Walkability Project

Communities across Delaware are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages.

In support of that work, AARP is excited to be able to provide funding to organizations through the AARP Community Challenge to help them jumpstart progress on ongoing work. These “quick action” grants are being distributed to 129 organizations, with at least one in every state, Washington D.C, and Puerto Rico, including right here in Delaware.  The Community Challenge grants provide communities with the chance to fund innovative projects that can inspire change in areas such as transportation, open spaces, housing, and other innovative projects to improve the community and make Delaware’s counties, cities, towns and rural areas better places to live for all Delawareans.

The Community Challenge is part of AARP’s work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all residents. We believe that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; affordable and accessible housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life.

After a successful 2017, with 90 grantees, this initiative is now in its 2 ^nd year, and it has increased its investment to over $1.3 million in the form of 129 grants.

Here in Delaware, we are excited about the work that the Community Challenge Grants are supporting in 2018. The Claymont Community Center received funding for a project that will increase accessibility to the Center for older Delawareans and families. The new walking paths will allow for more walking groups, fitness and general access to the Center. The project fits right in with AARP’s focus on making our communities more livable for those age 50+ and their families.

Last year’s grant recipient in Delaware, the City of Dover, used their grant award to create signage on a new bike path that connects the East and West ends of Dover. The 18 signs even feature the AARP logo!

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge grant program both here in Delaware as well as across the nation, visit us at aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. To learn more about how AARP is working to make communities across Delaware and across the U.S. more livable for all residents, visit aarp.org/livable.