SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio City Council District 3 plans to use a $2,500 AARP grant to conduct bicycle audits and surveys and identify ways to improve connections between neighborhoods and community destinations.
District 3 received the funding earlier this year through AARP’s Community Challenge grant program, which awarded 750 grants totaling $8.3 million nationwide in 2026.
The program offers Flagship Grants, Demonstration Grants and Capacity-Building Microgrants. The microgrants support projects that focus on walk audits, bike audits, home modifications and disaster preparedness.
Other San Antonio recipients include the Hemisfair Conservancy, Gardopia Gardens and the San Antonio Street Art Initiative.
District 3 focuses on connectivity
Salvador Valdez, a District 3 official who holds several positions, said the project will examine connections between neighborhoods and destinations such as parks, trails, senior centers and community centers.
Valdez said major transportation corridors, including Interstate 37, create safety and accessibility challenges across the district.
District 3 covers portions of San Antonio’s South and Southeast sides as well as parts of Bexar County south of Loop 1604.
“Through the audits, we want to better understand where useful connections exist, where residents experience safety or accessibility challenges and where opportunities for improved connectivity may exist,” Valdez said.
The district intends the project to benefit residents of all ages while maintaining a particular focus on older adults, a population that AARP’s Community Challenge program prioritizes.
Residents can identify safety concerns
The bicycle audits will give residents an opportunity to identify issues such as pavement conditions, signage and pedestrian crossings, Valdez said.
Residents’ input from the audits and surveys will help District 3 develop recommendations and guide future discussions about bicycle safety and connectivity.
“The information gathered through the audits and surveys will help inform recommendations and future conversations about bicycle safety and connectivity in District 3,” Valdez said.
