Selfhelp Community Services to Study Impact of 34th Avenue Open Street

Selfhelp Community Services today announced they have won an AARP New York Community Challenge grant to conduct a walkability review of the 34th Avenue Open Street’s impact on the Jackson Heights neighborhood, particularly for residents aged 50 and older. The grant will allow the nonprofit’s Jackson Heights NORC, the Northridge/Southridge/Brulene NORC, to conduct walk audits of the open street this summer.

“Social isolation is a major factor in health outcomes for older adults, and leads to poor health outcomes. Creating a Liveable Community means creating opportunities for older adults to reduce social isolation, make connections, and build community,” said Stuart Kaplan, CEO of Selfhelp. “This walk audit is an opportunity for neighbors who are 50+ to share their feedback with the community so the open street space can feel safe and accessible to all.”

A walk audit is an activity in which participants observe and evaluate the walkability of a location to identify and document if and how pedestrians can safely travel along a street, navigate an intersection and get from point A to B and C and so on. Walk audits are part of AARP’s Livable Communities program, which seeks to support older adults in living their best lives at any age by working with local and state leaders.

“AARP New York is committed to working with local leaders and organizations to make our communities a better place to live for New Yorkers of all ages—especially those 50 and older,” said Beth Finkel, State Director of AARP New York. “We are proud to collaborate with Selfhelp Community Services through our Community Challenge Grant program as they bring older residents into the conversation about walkability and safety on 34th Avenue. This project is a powerful example of how we can build more livable, inclusive communities.”

The NYC Open Street program creates shared space during daylight hours for pedestrians to walk along 34th Avenue for 1.3 miles in a neighborhood with limited green space. However, in public meetings and within the NORC program, older adults have expressed safety concerns, such as uneven road/sidewalks; the illegal use of the bicycle lane by electric bikes that exceed the speed limit; and, poor and confusing signage that makes it difficult to understand which part of the street is safe for pedestrians.

In July, Selfhelp will invite local elected officials and neighborhood groups, as well as AARP’s local chapter in Corona, the 34th Ave Open Street, and the NY Coalition for Transportation, to participate in the initiative. The exact dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

The project will include five walk audits to identify potential locations for road repair, sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, and improved signage. The project will recruit volunteers representing adults 50+ from the community to participate, and feature at least two community meetings with walk audit participants, residents, elected officials and the New York City Department of Transportation, to discuss the results of the walk audits and how to incorporate results in future planning.

Selfhelp is dedicated to providing care that is compassionate, trusted, and innovative, always respecting the life experiences of those they serve. Selfhelp’s unique approach is rooted in their longstanding work with Holocaust survivors. Each year, they support 25,000 individuals through affordable housing, home care, and community-based services, supporting aging with dignity and independence. www.selfhelp.net

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

The AARP Community Challenge is a grant program to make tangible improvements in 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, visit AARP.org/Livable.