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Vancouver pilots digital maps to improve accessibility for all
Park Board improves visitor experience in Vancouver’s destination parks through digital accessibility mapping in partnership with digital platform AccessNow.
At a glance
Who: City of Vancouver Park Board; AccessNow; Destination Vancouver.
What: The City is running a digital accessibility mapping pilot in its parks using the AccessNow platform.
Why: To enhance accessibility of the City’s parks and trails, improving overall visitor experience for everyone, including people with disabilities and diverse access needs.
Where: The pilot project will run in Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, John Hendry Park, and New Brighton Park.
Vancouver’s Board of Parks and Recreation has launched a pilot programme aimed at enhancing accessibility of the City’s parks and trails, improving overall visitor experience for everyone.
Visitors, including people with disabilities and diverse access needs, to Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, John Hendry Park, and New Brighton Park can now access high-quality, interactive accessibility maps to support trip planning and real-time navigation.
Accessibility of places
The Park Board is working with AccessNow, a digital platform that allows users to search and rate the accessibility of places, to conduct specialised accessibility audits using advanced technology and auditors with lived disability experience.
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With support from Destination Vancouver, VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory are also rated as accessible attractions on the platform, providing visitors with detailed accessibility information to help plan their visit.
The City reports this approach has generated reliable, detailed information on trail conditions, terrain, and amenities. The data has been integrated into a global digital mapping platform, providing meaningful accessibility information in time for the peak summer season.
“By improving access to clear and reliable information, we continue to support more inclusive, welcoming, and easy-to-explore outdoor experiences for all”
“Making our parks accessible for everyone is a priority for us,” said Tom Digby, chair of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. “By improving access to clear and reliable information, we continue to support more inclusive, welcoming, and easy-to-explore outdoor experiences for all.”
The AccessNow app can be found by searching the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for mobile devices, and it can also be accessed directly online through AccessNow’s web platform at accessnow.com.
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How does digital mapping improve park access for visitors with diverse needs?What specific trail information does AccessNow provide for trip planning?Which audit methods ensured reliable accessibility data in the pilot?How were people with lived disability experience involved in audits?What measurable visitor experience improvements resulted from integrating accessibility data?citizen engagementCultural spaceinclusivitymobilityParks and green spacePedestrianisationRecreational spaceurban spaceVancouver
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