The Impact

Hercules commenced its engagement journey with Zencity in March 2022 and has since gathered a wealth of insights and feedback from its residents. The comments and suggestions collected from the community have been instrumental in shaping the future of the city's park system within the framework of the Parks System Master Plan. To ensure a diverse range of voices, a steering committee comprising representatives from various city commissions was established to assist with public outreach.

The outreach process enabled Hercules to understand where the community saw the priority for its parks post-Covid. Unexpectedly, residents highly valued open spaces and natural environments, such as the connectivity of trails, which wasn't initially a priority for city staff. This low-hanging fruit became a win-win solution as it required minimal investment but garnered significant community support.

As the city progresses to the prioritization stage of the Parks System Master Plan, it is equipped with a comprehensive understanding of what its residents value most. The data collected through Zencity will guide the city council in making informed recommendations and crafting an action plan for the park system. With the project scheduled for completion in October, Hercules is on the path to making critical decisions about budget allocation and delivering on the residents' aspirations.

Download the presentation from  "Open Doors, Open Data: Winning Public Trust by Running Transparent, Data-Driven Project Planning" at ICMA, with Dante Hall.