Park Access and Safety Initiative

Green Space, Park Access, and Trees

County of Los Angeles

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

"This is as far as we ever go. We don't know if there are benches around the next corner." - from an elderly couple visiting an LA County botanic garden. There are many reasons a park might have degraded accessibility, sometimes to the point of preventing access entirely. Examples include elderly people needing to understand the availability of resources such as resting benches or facilities; families or caretakers monitoring adults or children with varying degrees of ability; general safety concerns and peace of mind. This leads to inequitable access, reduced user satisfaction, and underutilization of these valuable outdoor spaces. By developing a mobile app that provides comprehensive up-to-date information on park features, accessible wayfinding to points of interest, as well as group monitoring, we aim to enhance accessibility, improve user experiences, and encourage community engagement with the parks.

During the duration of the grant, we will develop a mobile app for iOS and Android with the following characteristics: - Easy to understand interface, localized in multiple languages - Map-based experience identifying park resources - Locate yourself and others in your party on the map - Identify accessible routes to points of interest - Report issues identified within the park - Dynamic map elements such as identified hazards or ephemeral events - A feedback mechanism to gather insights from the community regarding the app To support the app, a backend service will be developed to store all relevant data and serve dynamic information to the app. A web portal will be developed to monitor application health and provide authorized access to submitted issue reports. The app will generate analytics to identify anonymous usage patterns and engagement. This data will be used to track efficacy and produce a summary report on usage during the grant period. Promotional material will be developed to inform the public about the app and its use. Feedback from the community will be encouraged. At the end of the grant period, a report will be generated on what the app achieved, community feedback, and insights gleaned from the collected data. It is our intent to expand the project to additional parks and improve the quality and features of the app to support a larger community.

The County will experience several positive outcomes. First, the app will enhance access to public parks, enabling residents to easily locate and utilize park features, such as play equipment, facilities, water fountains, and benches. This will improve the overall park experience, fostering a sense of connection to nature and promoting physical activity and well-being. Second, the reporting feature will facilitate efficient issue resolution, allowing residents to report maintenance or safety concerns promptly. This will contribute to the timely remediation of park issues, ensuring safer and more enjoyable park environments for all visitors. Third, the app's emphasis on equitable access and community engagement will foster inclusivity and social cohesion. By providing comprehensive information and features catering to diverse user needs, the app will bridge existing disparities and encourage a broader range of residents to utilize and enjoy the county's public parks.

The technology used for this project has been internally developed with the support and guidance of Toyota Mobility Foundation. In addition, work and requirements have been advised by Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio, as well as relationships with LA County Parks and Beaches. However, the application of this technology to Los Angeles County Parks is new and the subject of this proposal. Success will be defined by increased park accessibility, improved user experiences, and enhanced community engagement. Key metrics will include the app's adoption rate, user satisfaction surveys, frequency of issue reporting and resolution, and the number of diverse communities actively utilizing and benefiting from the app. Success will also be measured by user feedback on improved park experiences. Based on initial app usage and data analysis, we will refine the app and extend coverage to more parks as funding allows.