Grants Boost Pedestrian Safety, Livability in Missouri

When leaders in the city of Bolivar set out to design a new public playground, they asked families with children what elements they’d like it to include. But they also reached out to older residents and individuals with disabilities to talk about their needs.

The goal was to create a space that would appeal to a range of residents and serve as a connection point for all ages. The result: an inclusive play area with a swing set, a seesaw and other equipment for kids, as well as plenty of shade, picnic tables and accessible paths for older adults.

“When public spaces invite people to come together, they become more than just parks — they become vibrant hubs that strengthen community ties and improve quality of life for everyone,” says Kevin Kelly, community development coordinator for the city of around 11,000 people located about 30 miles northwest of Springfield.

The project was made possible by a $15,600 AARP Community Challenge grant. Six Missouri entities in all this year received AARP grants — totaling $70,467 — to fund projects designed to improve public places, transportation, housing, digital connections and other key areas.

Many of the grants are benefiting communities in rural areas.

Craig Eichelman, AARP Missouri’s state director, notes that smaller communities can “age faster” when younger generations move to nearby cities.

Projects that focus on the accessibility of a downtown area — or ones that focus on livability improvements such as walking trails and community gardens — can help keep an area vibrant, Eichelman says.

“Missouri is like a lot of places in the country where people want to age in place and have their community invest in amenities designed to make staying in that community easier and more pleasant,” he says.

FOCUS ON PARKS, STREETS

Nationwide, AARP this year provided $4.2 million in Community Challenge grants for 383 quick-action projects.

In Missouri, pedestrian safety was a key focus area for some grant recipients, with funding going to crosswalk improvements, the addition of directional signs to guide people, and other projects. Other communities chose to concentrate on ways to enhance recreational spaces.

In Pleasant Hill, southeast of Kansas City, residents voiced a desire for places to gather and play, says Shelby Teufel, former city administrator. Voters approved funding to overhaul two large parks, and even though the city’s population skews younger than others in the region, officials still wanted the redesigned spaces to be enjoyable for all ages.

The city added switchbacks to meet grade requirements; flat, paved parking lots for easier access; more pickleball courts; and a splash pad. The city will also use its $12,500 AARP Community Challenge grant to install benches that residents can use to socialize and rest.

Since the improvements started rolling out, Teufel says she’s seen grandparents bringing grandchildren to the splash pad and envisions a sports complex where grandparents can drop off a child at practice and stay to enjoy the walking paths and recreation.

The AARP grant, she says, will help the city do more than it could accomplish alone. “We want to give the opportunity for individuals to age in place rather than moving to another community,” Teufel says.

Other Missouri grantees this year include:

• CHARM (Charleston Revitalization Movement) received $12,000, with funding support from Toyota Motor North America Inc., to improve safety for pedestrians along the city’s main street with reflective crosswalks and flashing LED signs.
• EverTrue, a faith-centered nonprofit that offers care for older adults, received $11,867, also with funding support from Toyota, to install speed bumps at Hylton Point Apartments in St. Louis and to host a neighborhood safety event. Both aim to increase pedestrian safety, especially for older adults.
• Citizens for Modern Transit, a St. Louis advocacy organization, received $15,000 to install benches at five transit stops as part of the “Story of a Bench” program with AARP in St. Louis.
• Downtown Perryville Advancement, a nonprofit serving the area, will use $3,500 to install directional signs on the courthouse lawn to help visitors — especially those who prefer physical maps to smartphones — navigate the downtown area.

The AARP Community Challenge grant program is part of the organization’s Livable Communities initiative. Go to aarp.org/communitychallenge for more information.

Jaime Sarrio is a writer, editor and communications consultant. She has written about state and local government, women’s health and education.

MORE ON LIVABILITY

• Explore the AARP Livability Index
• Learn About the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities
• Download a Free AARP Walk Audit Toolkit