The City of Deerfield Beach, in partnership with the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO), has been selected to receive a grant of $20,000 through the 2021 AARP Community Challenge. On an annual basis, the AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. AARP selected the City of Deerfield Beach and the BMPO's collaborative project amongst over 3,500 nationwide applicants. Submitted applications spotlighted projects that improve public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more.
The City of Deerfield Beach and the BMPO teamed up to execute a quick build pilot project within the NE 3rd Avenue corridor in the Tedder Community as part of the Broward MPO Tactical Urbanism program, “BTactical”. This corridor is an essential route for pedestrians of all ages who regularly walk or bike. The proposed project will increase visibility through pedestrian treatments and traffic calming between East Sample Road and NE 44th Street. To learn more about this quick build project, visit the project website at https://www.browardmpo.org/tactical-urbanism and StoryMap https://arcg.is/0X1Oer
With this “quick-action” grant, we will temporarily build an installation that includes intersection improvements, wayfinding and informational signage, traffic calming features and crosswalks with decorative surface treatments. This pilot project could use materials like traffic paint, durable plastic planters, delineator posts, and artistic asphalt elements, with no excavation of the existing roadway. The project will be evaluated so that the project team and community can see what works (and what doesn’t!) for a future, long-term solution to the street. For those interested in getting involved in the project, the City of Deerfield Beach, in partnership with the BMPO, will host a workshop on Thursday, August 26, 2021. For more information and to register, visit https://arcg.is/Ta9H1
The AARP Community Challenge is a grant program to make tangible improvements to communities that jump-start long-term change. It is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages.
To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge across the nation, including all 244 granted projects this year, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of all Community Challenge projects and AARP’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.