In neighborhood renewal, it's crucial to involve residents because they know their neighborhood best. In this project, the MapTalk app was used to ask residents about their vision for the future of their neighborhood.
Through the app, residents could indicate on an interactive map what they consider important: where should more green space come, where are meeting places needed, which routes are important? This has resulted in a rich picture of what residents want.
Resident input was then used to develop a vision for neighborhood renewal. This vision aligns with residents' wishes and has led to plans that are widely supported.
Using an app makes participation more accessible. People can respond at any time without having to attend a meeting. This has led to much broader engagement than with traditional participation methods.
