MAKING CHANGE THROUGH MAPPING: THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON FOOT MAP SERIES Seth Schromen-Wawrin Active Communities Program Director Feet First

MAPS Communicate information Help people navigate Elaborate on the unknown Portray the world in only one way Who makes the map, decides what it says Have to know how to read it Stick Chart – Met Museum of Art

GOALS Promote Health and Physical Activity –Knowledge of proximity –Educate about destinations –Walking theme Community engagement –Highlight community resources –Develop partnerships –Raise awareness of neighborhood Advocacy –Focus concerns –Build momentum –Highlight positive practices

CHARACTERISTICS Map side –Scale includes walking time –Visuals of walking distance and difficulty –Walking and biking routes –Activity symbols

CHARACTERISTICS Text side –Community resource contact information –Discussion of pedestrian infrastructure

INIDIVIDUAL Increase knowledge of neighborhood Provides clarity to familiar areas Sparks curiosity of unfamiliar areas Increases confidence in navigation

COMMUNITY Develops partnerships Provides clarity to community pedestrian needs Creates rallying tool for an issue Increases recognition of active living and pedestrians Fosters a pride of the neighborhood

PROCESS Scoping/Dossier –Preliminary community outreach –Destinations –Current affairs –Theme Community outreach –Contact key organizations –Community workshops –Surveys –Attend neighborhood meetings Design –Ground truthing –Story research and consult experts –(almost) Universal symbology Community Review –Physical copies –Electronic copies –Presentations Distribution –10,000 to 20,000 –Local hubs and community centers –Continual upkeep Advocating Through the Map –Raise awareness –Prioritized projects

EXAMPLES Burien Map West Seattle Trails North Beacon Hill

BURIEN NEED –Booming Latino population 3% to 11% from 1990 to 2000 while city has remained constant High income and health disparities –Area deceptively not walkable Yet many walkers and recent development SCOPE –Latino population In Spanish Texted geared to Latino culture –New residents More common destinations

BURIEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH –Connected with local Latino organizations –Interviewed eight leaders of the Latino community DESIGN –Strong emphasis on clear symbols –Graphic emphasis on needs of new families Community Review –Focus groups with city leaders, Latino community leaders, and health practitioners –Presented map at Latino events

BURIEN Outcomes –Increased visibility of active living in Burien Latino organizations more aware of active living Map distributes information on active living to residents –Increased engagement of a subset of the Burien Community Stronger partnerships with local Latino organizations –Systems change in Burien government Develop connections between city and Latino leaders

NORTH BEACON HILL SCOPING –Sound Transit Light Rail Station –Partnership with Public Health – Seattle & King County to do a health impact assessment COMMUNITY OUTREACH –Walking Audit –Neighborhood workshop –Coordinated momentum with light rail and HIA

NORTH BEACON HILL DESIGN –Focus on light rail station –Draw attention to commercial area –History and local happenings to give pride of place COMMUNITY REVIEW –Displayed at community hubs –Community leaders and neighborhood groups –Used review to stimulate discussions on Lander Street

NORTH BEACON HILL OUTCOMES –Raised awareness of HIA and Lander Street project –Stimulated extensive discussion within community about future of area with light rail Rezoning and neighborhood plans Food and housing security Pedestrian and bike infrastructure needs –Increase local support for pedestrian oriented development

WEST SEATTLE TRAILS SCOPING –Community driven project to develop trails network throughout the West Seattle area Began in 2004 as Dells and Ridges Celebrating success of Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail COMMUNITY OUTREACH –Extensive community meetings –Partnership with local organizations (DNDA, Audubon, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, neighborhood councils, etc) –Survey –Prioritize routes DESIGN –Trail development and ground truthing –Neighborhood nodes and kiosks –Emphasis on pedestrian first

WEST SEATTLE TRAILS COMMUNITY REVIEW –Multiple drafts for review –Presentations DISTRIBUTION –Raise awareness of ongoing wayfinding program –Swarm local destinations –Coordinate with neighborhood walks and trail projects

WEST SEATTLE TRAILS OUTCOMES –Map functions as active planning tool for trail development –Prioritize infrastructure projects ~ $1.5 million –Development of wayfinding network to accompany trails

SUMARY Map making is not always rosy… Use map making to promote health –Highlight healthy destinations (food, recreation, etc) –Put pedestrians, cyclists, and transit before cars on the map Use map making as a community building process –Strong and diverse outreach –Listen to how they see the neighborhood –Allow people to create visions for their neighborhood Use map making as advocacy –Build awareness about pedestrians and health –Develop priorities for projects

QUESTIONS?