Parks & Open Space Explorer

01 / The challenge

I developed the Explorer to replace the old Parks Dashboard and bring related public mapping tools into one application. The dashboard had limited functionality and was difficult to adapt for digital accessibility. Experience Builder provided more room to organize park information and expand the tools available to visitors and staff.

02 / Designing the experience

Built in ArcGIS Online, the Explorer connects an interactive map with park search, a park list, and an information panel. Users can select a park to find details such as acreage and trail mileage, along with links to park resources.

The application includes trail elevation profiles, designated-use information, trail-difficulty filters, human–wildlife interaction reports, and land and acreage information. These subjects have dedicated views within the same application, with layouts for desktop, tablet, and mobile screens.

03 / Accessibility & clarity

Accessibility was part of the development process. The application includes descriptive alternative text, instructions for using the park information panel, and links for requesting accessibility assistance. These choices help explain what each tool does and give people ways to seek help when they encounter a barrier.

The work also involved practical navigation problems, including creating and testing park-specific links so people could open the Explorer at the park they wanted. Accessibility and usability remain ongoing work as the application and its content change.

04 / Built to keep growing

The public ArcGIS Online version launched in September 2025, following earlier development of the county’s public GIS experience in ArcGIS Enterprise. Work has continued on mobile layouts, park links, and additional ways to explore trail and land information.

The Explorer brings together existing GIS data, maps, and tools in a format the county can continue to maintain and expand. The live application shows the current version of that work.