Go Ottawa Awarded 2026 AARP Grant for Putnam Parkway Crosswalk
Go Ottawa has been awarded a 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grant to install an artistic, solar-powered pedestrian crosswalk on Putnam Parkway in Ottawa, Ohio.
Go Ottawa is proud to announce it has been selected as a recipient of a 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grant. This year, only 750 projects were funded from more than 5,100 applications submitted from across the United States.
In partnership with the Village of Ottawa, the Putnam County District Library, the Meadows of Ottawa and Ottawa Elementary, Go Ottawa will install a highly visible, solar-powered pedestrian crosswalk on Putnam Parkway. The project will create a safer connection between these vital community assets. By improving pedestrian safety and accessibility, the project will make it easier for residents of all ages—especially older adults—to safely walk between these important community resources.
Building on Community-Driven Planning
The new crosswalk is the direct result of community feedback gathered during Go Ottawa's 2024 AARP Capacity Building Microgrant. Through that grant, volunteers completed bike audits throughout Ottawa to identify opportunities to improve walking and biking infrastructure. One of the top recommendations was to install a safer pedestrian crossing along Putnam Parkway.
The 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grant allows Go Ottawa to transform that recommendation into a permanent improvement that will benefit residents for years to come.
Help Design Ottawa's New Crosswalk Mural
The Putnam Parkway crosswalk won't just improve safety—it will also become a vibrant piece of public art. Go Ottawa is inviting artists, students, and community members to participate in a Crosswalk Mural Design Contest.
Contest Details
Design Theme: Capture the spirit of Putnam Parkway and the Ottawa community.
Design Size: Create your design with the crosswalk's 6-foot by 24-foot dimensions in mind.
Submission Deadline: Friday, July 17
How to Submit: Email your design to hello@go-ottawa.com or drop it off at any branch of the Putnam County District Library.
Additional contest information and updates will be shared on Go Ottawa's social media channels.
Go Ottawa extends its sincere thanks to AARP for investing in projects that make communities more livable. We look forward to working with the Village of Ottawa and our residents to create a safer, more accessible, and more connected Ottawa for generations to come.