Given the imbalance of urban to natural landscapes in New York City, community parks have become the ecological and social centers of many neighborhoods—free, shared spaces vital to community building.

While the need for park investment is long-standing, NYC, like many local governments, faces limited resources and difficult choices in distributing them across the five boroughs.
↑
The problem
How can we come up with community-centered solutions for locals to enjoy, without contributing to their displacement?
Data shows a troubling disparity: underprivileged neighborhoods have historically received far less investment, leaving many parks neglected and underfunded. In low-income, densely populated areas, this often results in barren asphalt lots with outdated or minimal equipment.

Although parks play a crucial role in promoting social equity, their revitalization can also trigger gentrification, driving up property values and housing costs that displace longtime residents.
Process
User research and synthesis, ideation, prototyping
Role
UX/UI Designer
Team of 6
Tools
Figma, Illustrator, Miro, Freeform
Duration
6 weeks
Oct - Dec 2023
Some context
Just a month or two prior to this project, I took a stroll through Maria Hernandez Park, situated between the Jefferson Street and DeKalb Avenue subway stations in Bushwick. For some time, I had observed a pretty obvious separation between the long-established Latino communities and the more recently arrived twenty- and thirty-somethings, many of whom were not people of color.
‍
The park felt like a reflection of a broader city trend — communities coexist physically, yet remain increasingly socially distant. It made me question who truly feels a sense of belonging in these spaces and whether their design or use subtly favors one group over another. This quiet tension between presence and participation raised deeper questions for me about equity, ownership, and the role of public space in fostering or fragmenting community.

I began to notice similar patterns elsewhere—in the community gardens of Alphabet City, at Herbert Von King Park in Bed-Stuy, and more recently, in Sunset Park along Brooklyn’s southern edge. These gentrification patterns are well-documented, as seen below.
01 Research
What do local park-goers think could be improved? What should stay the same?
To understand what, why, and who we are designing (for), we set up the following research steps:
An In-Person Survey of Brooklyn-based Parks
Using the New York Gentrification and Displacement map created by the Urban Displacement Project, we decided to do a survey of parks in Brooklyn, the borough that has been most affected by this issue (as of 2023). The parks are listed below:
For Steps 1 and 2, our team of six divided into pairs, with each pair visiting two to three parks. We started by writing down observations about the setup of the park, what activities went on, what demographics were present, and any other unique characteristics. Afterwards, we began interviewing park-goers.

We created a set of interview questions (below) using our preliminary research. Although the project started with the idea of urban displacement, we were eager to learn more about issues that weren’t already on our radar—hidden concerns that could come to light via the personal experiences of the park-goers. About three to four individuals from each park were interviewed, aiming for a balanced representation of the park's demographic.
After each park visit, the observations and interview findings were compiled into a chart as seen below.
“Williamsburg is turning the park into a cafe. It's so populated because people who just moved here like how clean and safe it feels.”
- Local from Prospect Park
“So many of the plants here are native to the area and people don’t know anything about them, when they are the reason we come out here to be in nature.”
- Local from Clinton Hill
“The park is very diverse. Some sides feel safer than others, but you will always end up finding a lot of activities in the area.”
- Local from Sunset Park
Filling in Research Gaps
After compiling our initial brainstorm and interview responses, we conducted secondary research to acquire a holistic view of the issue and to understand potential solutions.
02 Synthesis
Prominent Findings and Themes
Reflecting on our primary and secondary research, we identified seven core themes to guide the design of our solution.
We referenced past park solutions and mapped them to each theme, taking note of which solutions were most applicable. Signage, events, and policy became the three blocks supporting our vision—a park that remains rooted in the community that built it.
Policy
Give the residents a voice in park-related developments
Events & Initiatives
Encourage local park-goers to interact with their community regularly
Signage
Keep park visitors informed of the space they occupy
Concept Validation and Critique
After establishing a conceptual foundation for our design solution, we sought feedback from experts in Urban Science and Transdisciplinary Design before shifting gears.
Tracy Jo Ingram

→ Professor at the Center for Urban Science + Progress, New York University
‍
“Suggesting to the parks department that they support the community initiatives may be a way you would preserve the history of the area. Look at what is already happening, and look how people are already using the park, to make those preservations and improvements.”

“Thinking of collaborative governance. So suggesting to the parks department to collaborate with the communities to make decisions about their local park.”
Lara Penin

→ Co-founder of the Parsons DESIS Lab, Professor of Transdisciplinary Design, Parsons School of Design
‍
‍
“As part of a UX project, why not incorporate elements of aesthetic choice for people?”

“When we use the community for the aesthetics of the park that is the antidote of gentrification cause it shows character of the community through the parks.”
What can we learn from past solutions?
The feedback from our concept validation provided valuable insights for moving forward. We revisited our research mind map and identified case studies of past solutions that align with the themes we aim to address in our own design.
Policy
The East River Park redesign, part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency project, included community input from 2013 to 2016 but faced backlash when a revised plan was introduced in 2018 without prior notice. In response, the city held over 40 meetings with local groups and established a Community Advisory Group (CAG) led by the Pratt Center. Advocacy organizations, including the East River Alliance, continue to push for phased construction, ongoing park access, and preservation of community assets to ensure residents and environmental groups have a voice.
Takeaways
1. Community-led policy initiatives can redefine how parks are developed, managed, and experienced.
2. Policy processes must be inclusive to ensure public participation.
3. Transparent, early and consistent engagement prevents backlash and fosters collaboration.
4. Organized groups (like the East River Alliance) are critical to upholding community needs.
Events & Initiatives
Founded in 2021 in response to pandemic-related hardships, Plaza Tonatiuh is a grassroots open-air market run by Mexicanos Unidos in Sunset Park. It supports immigrant vendors and serves as a hub for cultural pride and expression within the Mexican and Latin American community. It runs every Sunday during May through October. Recently, increased targeting by city enforcement—due to its unpermitted status—has prompted community members to push back, pressuring city officials to recognize the value and importance of this community-led initiative.
Takeaways
1. Organic community gatherings sustain the neighborhood — policy should enable, not erase, these spaces.
2. As public commons, parks should prioritize local needs over bureaucratic compliance. 
3. Truly local events thrive through word-of-mouth and trusted networks — algorithmic promotion (Instagram/Eventbrite) often displaces the very communities these events serve.
Signage
First created in 2007 by Anne Ferguson in Montpelier, Vermont, StoryWalks offer an innovative way to promote literacy and physical activity by encouraging children to "read as they walk." This alternative reading experience places pages of a story along an outdoor path, allowing families to engage with books while on the move. Studies have shown that the low cost of this method makes it especially effective for outreach in lower-income neighborhoods, leading to increased engagement with local libraries and community literacy programs.
Takeaways
1. StoryWalk’s success lies in consistent engagement (families revisiting paths), not viral appeal.
2. Parks can be tied to other local resources (schools, cultural centers) and this cross-collaboration can amplify impact.
03 Ideation
How can our research guide our design?
We used our takeaways about policy, events, and signage to identify current flaws in New York City parks. As an overarching idea, we realized that a mobile app would be able to effectively house solutions for all three issues. However, we recognize that a government tool must appeal to the general public and not just to a socioeconomic subset. While digital platforms aren't universally accessible, a thoughtfully designed app could complement (not replace) offline interactions. After all, successful widespread adoption will only happen if everyone—from teens to retirees—feels part of the community, rather than excluded from it.
Policy
Currently, NYC consists of 59 community districts, each having their own community board. These community boards are the lowest level of local government and they wield no official authority to make or enforce laws. However, they do advise their borough’s president. Representing an important piece of grassroots policy-making, community boards are the main way for residents to express their concerns to their elected officials. Currently, NYC consists of 59 community districts, each having their own community board. These community boards are the lowest level of local government and act in an advisory capacity, wielding no official authority to make or enforce laws.  
I personally attended my local community board meeting to better understand the process. To my surprise, there were only 20 or so participants in the call, many of whom were either board members or business owners seeking permits. It became clear to me that community board meetings aren’t inviting enough to the everyday working residents. 

The other way to voice complaints about a park or recreational facility is by submitting a form on the NYC 311 website. When I experimented with the 311 form myself, I found the drop-down menus forced complaints into narrow categories like "overfilled trash cans" or "broken playground equipment," leaving no room for broader concerns about park safety, programming gaps, or long-term improvements. Parks aren’t deteriorating because of community apathy. Outdated systems are making it hard to meaningfully participate.
In order for meaningful discourse to occur, policy discussions need to be as accessible as everyday conversation. The app would house forum-style threads with an upvote interface, through which residents could post their concerns, add onto other resident’s posts, and discuss potential solutions. With community board support, these discussions could act as a direct pipeline from casual feedback to formal action. As community initiatives gain momentum on Park Pulse, community board members could bring them up in formal meetings, and subsequently pass them on to their borough president. Any proposed legislation or policy changes could then be discussed on the forums, allowing for quick, actionable feedback.
Events & Initiatives
To register an event in a New York City park, a fee of 25 dollars and community board approval is required. While this is a relatively simple process, there aren’t any official ways to interact with the event afterwards. Conducting outreach, organizing volunteers, and notifying event attendees all falls on the event organizers, with no central platform available to use.
As a solution, our app would feature a dedicated events hub for every park. Similar to the current process, residents would be able to submit events through the app for community board approval. Once approved, organizers can engage with the community by tracking RSVPs in real time, recruiting volunteers through the platform, and notifying attendees about important event details. The system would also accommodate smaller, private events via a public/private toggle. In order to keep events local, the app would limit event visibility to those who live close to the park by requiring users to submit proof-of-residence.
Signage
Signage has the opportunity to show off a park’s vivid history and personality. And yet, most park signs today only display basic information like park names or prohibited activities.  As an initiative outside of the platform, Park Pulse will involve updating park signage to be more detailed, accessible, and meaningful.
#1 Park Entrance
Color indicates the subway line that is closest to where the sign is located
QR codes to learn more about the park using the app's scanning feature
Braille for the visually-impaired
#2 Native Plant Life
Wooden signs that provide information about plants and trees, highlighting their ecological significance, care requirements, origins, and other relevant details. Further information can be found by scanning the QR codes.
04 Wireframes
Visualizing the Interface
Low fidelity sketches of the app
Turning the Sketches into Wireframes
To better envision the application's user flow, we created a low-fidelity prototype from our sketches. The initial idea features a bottom navigation bar featuring icons for the forum tab, scanner, and event tab, respectively, and top corner icons for the profile and notification displays. Using this mock up, we were able to get a better understanding of whether key features were missing for the application's navigation.
05 Design
Finalized Screens
Account Creation and Verification for New Users
  • Users can create an account with their name, phone number, and email
  • A six-digit code is sent to the phone number for two-factor authentification
  • Proof-of-residence can be uploaded directly to the app
  • While waiting to be verified, users still have access to certain app features
Optional Onboarding Screens to Learn About the App
  • Explains the main themes of the app
  • In the meantime, the app can finish verifying the identity of a user
  • Upon exit, the home screen is displayed
Home Screen
  • Features navigation to the profile page, notification drop down, map interface, scanner, as well as the forum and events tabs.
Central QR Code Scanner
  • Quickly accessible from the home screen
  • Upon scanning, signage information is displayed, along with links with further information
  • Users can return to the home screen by swiping down on the camera display
Plants
  • Users can scan park plant labels to access additional information
  • Encourages users to become more familiar with their local fauna
Art and History
  • Users can learn more about a park's history or monuments
  • Audio tours can be attached for a more immersive and engaging experience
  • Scanning a sign that's part of a sequential series will bring up all related signs in a carousel format
Forums Allow Users to Easily Communicate with One Another
  • Users can browse recent discussions by fellow community members or view their own posts
  • Users can create a new petition with tags, uploaded photos, and a location pin
Event Pages Inform Residents About Upcoming Park Festivities
  • View the park's schedule for the week and RSVP to events hosted by organizations and fellow community members
  • Request space for a public or private event in the park and await approval from the community board
  • Receive update in the notification drop down to see whether the event has been approved
05 Prototype
Final Design
Click around the embed below to try the prototype or view it in a new tab, here.