Tom Carr and PedalSafe ROA receive 2024 Neighborhood Improvement Award for AARP Grant Implementation

Roanoke, VA - December 4, 2024 - On October 26th more than 100 people came out to volunteer with PedalSafe ROA to implement a 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant. The project created traffic calming and art along the Ferdinand Ave corridor between Elm Ave and Riverside Blvd SW. Thanks to the generous support of AARP and Toyota Motor North America, volunteers painted artistic designs created by Roanoke artist Maggie Perrin-Key on the street in areas designated by the city.

In recognition of the work by Tom Carr, who applied for the AARP Community Challenge grant and led implementation of the project, the Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates have selected Tom Carr and PedalSafe ROA as the recipient of the 2024 Neighborhood Improvement Award. The Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates is a nine-member committee created by the Roanoke City Council to support neighborhoods and neighborhood-based organizations. The annual Neighborhood Improvement Award recognizes a neighborhood project and/or activity that improves and/or enhances a neighborhood’s quality of life. Tom Carr and PedalSafe ROA worked closely with the Old Southwest and Mountain View neighborhood organizations to plan and complete the AARP Community Challenge Grant project.

The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at the 7 p.m. city council session at the City Municipal Building (215 Church Ave. SW Roanoke, VA 24011).

About the Ferdinand Ave Corridor project:
PedalSafe ROA is excited to be named along with our Board member Tom Carr as recipients of the 2024 Neighborhood Improvement Award. This AARP Community Challenge grant has been an incredible project to be a part of and its success is thanks to our many collaborators, including the city of Roanoke, the Old Southwest and Mountain View neighborhood organizations, the Roanoke Arts Commission, Maggie Perrin-Key, Lumsden Associates, the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission, L-M-C Traffic Control, Sherwin Williams, the Local Office on Aging, and the generous support of AARP and Toyota Motor North America.

“This project was exciting because of all of the people that it brought together and the way that it used the disruption of the Wasena bridge replacement to create a better and more beautiful corridor for biking, walking, and driving,” said PedalSafe Chairperson Ken McLeod. “We hope that this experience will help PedalSafe and the city find ways to create artistic and engaging safety improvements in more neighborhoods.”

Pictures of the project area available here: https://devincutterphotography.pixieset.com/ferdinandroad/

Videos of the project are available through Roanoke Valley Television:

• Ferdinand & Riverside Street Painting
• Art is Helping Make Roanoke's Streets Safer

There were three major areas of art implemented that should reduce speeding, improve sidewalk and crossing visibility, and increase cyclist and pedestrian safety. One final area is awaiting additional work by the city of Roanoke and volunteers due to the complexity of installing a traffic diverter, but should be completed soon.

PedalSafe ROA was chosen as one of 334 grantees from over 3,350 applications nationwide. Please follow PedalSafe ROA on Facebook (PedalSafe ROA) or Instagram (@pedalsaferoa) for updates about future bicycle-related events.

About the AARP Community Challenge program: The AARP Community Challenge grant program is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities initiative that helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages. The program is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress in support of residents of all ages. Since the program's debut in 2017, AARP has awarded $16.4 million through more than 1,370 grants across 900 communities reaching 100 million people. Visit https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/ to learn more.

About PedalSafe ROA: PedalSafe ROA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit advocacy group in Roanoke, Virginia dedicated to advancing safer streets and roads for all. Founded in 2022, PedalSafe’s mission is to promote Roanoke as a liveable community by improving the safety, convenience, and acceptance of cycling for all people. Visit pedalsaferoa.org to learn more and https://tinyurl.com/564h99ee to become a member.



Media Contact for PedalSafe ROA
Ken McLeod
kenmcld@gmail.com
+1.425.269.0516