Neighbourhood asset mapping is a community-focused way of sharing information about local resources.
Asset mapping projects typically focus on resources such as community spaces, skills and strengths of residents, or organizations in the community. Taking an inventory of community assets and displaying them on a map helps to easily identify available resources and address community needs.
Our neighbourhoods team is developing a gathering space asset map and we need your help! Mapping locations will benefit residents who require access to spaces for neighbourhood meetings and events. This tool will also help enable COVID-19 community recovery by supporting the return to in-person gatherings when it is safe to do so.
Neighbours will be able to browse locations across the community, see details about the spaces (capacity, size, amenities), and access contact information to book spaces for meetings and gatherings. To give residents a better sense of each space, photos will be included where possible.
Categories of spaces will include:
Indoor gathering spaces within recreational facilities, religious spaces, businesses, and community buildings
Outdoor gathering spaces within parks and green spaces
Developing a gathering space asset map was recommended in the City of Waterloo neighbourhood strategy. The interactive map will be displayed on the city’s new online hub for all things neighbourhoods, currently under development.
The interactive gathering spaces asset map is planned to be available early 2022. For more information, take a look at the workshop session from our Neighbourhood Summit.
Neighbourhood asset mapping is a community-focused way of sharing information about local resources.
Asset mapping projects typically focus on resources such as community spaces, skills and strengths of residents, or organizations in the community. Taking an inventory of community assets and displaying them on a map helps to easily identify available resources and address community needs.
Our neighbourhoods team is developing a gathering space asset map and we need your help! Mapping locations will benefit residents who require access to spaces for neighbourhood meetings and events. This tool will also help enable COVID-19 community recovery by supporting the return to in-person gatherings when it is safe to do so.
Neighbours will be able to browse locations across the community, see details about the spaces (capacity, size, amenities), and access contact information to book spaces for meetings and gatherings. To give residents a better sense of each space, photos will be included where possible.
Categories of spaces will include:
Indoor gathering spaces within recreational facilities, religious spaces, businesses, and community buildings
Outdoor gathering spaces within parks and green spaces
Developing a gathering space asset map was recommended in the City of Waterloo neighbourhood strategy. The interactive map will be displayed on the city’s new online hub for all things neighbourhoods, currently under development.
The interactive gathering spaces asset map is planned to be available early 2022. For more information, take a look at the workshop session from our Neighbourhood Summit.
Initial planning and research - September to November 2020
Let's map our gathering spaces! has finished this stage
Examine approaches taken in other jurisdictions, research and test map platforms, and create a data collection framework. Conduct community consultation and generate awareness of the project at the Neighbourhood Summit 2020.
Data collection and platform design - November 2020 to February 2021
Let's map our gathering spaces! has finished this stage
Collect and record data from internal and external community sources.
Platform development and testing - March to May 2021
Let's map our gathering spaces! has finished this stage
Engage internal and select external users to test the platform. Gather feedback and make adjustments.
User engagement - May 2021
Let's map our gathering spaces! has finished this stage
Host public consultations with neighbourhood associations and residents to confirm we are on the right track.
Soft launch - early 2022 - estimated timeline
Let's map our gathering spaces! has finished this stage
Release platform on online neighbourhoods hub and closely monitor prior to full launch and broad community promotion.
Project complete!
Let's map our gathering spaces! is currently at this stage