Web site to be a one-stop spot for info on parks open spaces
By: Katie Worth
Examiner Staff Writer
July 12, 2009
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| Place for parks: This new Web site, started by the nonprofit Parks Trust, is designed to be a single source for information on events in The City’s open spaces. (http://www.parksportal.com/) |
SAN FRANCISCO — Have a free afternoon and curious what’s going on in the rec center around the corner? Wondering when the next concert will be in Dolores Park? Or maybe just want to know what the local neighborhood association is up to?
A new, interactive Web site launching soon will be a single go-to source for all information about what’s going on in The City’s parks and recreation spaces.
The site, Park Portal, was born of a brainstorming session by the San Francisco Parks Trust last year and has been in the works ever since, said SFPT spokesman Peter Tucker. The Parks Trust is a nonprofit that focuses on supporting The City’s parks.
“The thing we found was there were a lot of disparate sources for a lot of different kinds of events. Rec and Park’s Web site had a place for classes and a separate place for volunteer opportunities. Some neighborhood associations had their own Web sites and others didn’t,” he said. “What we’re trying to organize here is one centralized location that park lovers can go to find out what’s going on.”
The site is expected to launch Aug. 1 and users will be able to search for events going on in their local parks and open spaces by location, type of event, organization or date, Tucker said. He said a main goal of the project is to be a tool for small neighborhood organizations looking for ways to get word out about their events to a wider audience.
As time goes on, more features will be rolled out, he said. Site visitors will be able to “follow” parks, types of events or organizations if they choose. Tucker envisioned the Web site as a way for organizations to communicate with their members or even raise funds for projects.
“We want to give organizers and park advocates a real strong tool to connect with their constituencies,” he said.
Tucker could not provide an estimate on how much Parks Trust money had been invested in the project but said the expense was mostly in staff time.
The site is www.parksportal.com.
