Tongerseweg in Maastricht needed to be redeveloped, and the Municipality of Maastricht wanted to involve residents. Using MapTalk, a participation process was set up that led to an impressive result: 50% of residents provided input.
This participation rate is exceptionally high. Traditional participation methods often achieve only 5-10% response. Using an online platform that is accessible and easy to use clearly made the difference.
Residents could indicate via MapTalk what they consider important for the redevelopment: more green space, better traffic safety, more parking spaces, etc. This input was then used to develop a plan that aligns with residents' wishes.
The project has demonstrated that online participation can lead to much higher engagement than traditional methods. Due to the accessible nature of the platform and the ability to respond at any time, many more people participated than would otherwise have been the case.
