Map Your 'Hood New Open Green Map Asks Citizens What Makes Their Neighborhoods Tick

Sustainable Heights Open Green Map invites everyone to get out and look around. Image courtesy OpenGreenMap.org.

Parks, social services, green buildings, recycling centers, volunteer activities, community gardens, libraries, historic districts, street festivals, people and organizations-these community assets are examples of important contributors to the sustainability of Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

Now the public will have easy online access to information about them all.

The new Sustainable Heights Open Green Map , a member of the global Green Map[®set superscript in InDesign for print version] sustainability mapping movement, is up and running and invites direct community input.

Starting with a few sites, the map will grow over the next year through the ongoing participation of the public.

"We're in the beginning phase of mapping," said Deanna Bremer Fisher, director of FutureHeights, sponsor of the program. "This map will be created by the community. Right now we're opening up the map for direct site submissions. Further down the road, we'll be working with students and local groups on mapping projects."

Residents are encouraged to turn their own asset-mapping into a family or neighborhood affair- or even a mapping party.

"Mapping is fun," says Fisher," and our residents are definitely the neighborhood experts. We hope they'll take a look around, chart their assets, and share them with the world."

Access the map at www.opengreenmap.org. and a printable mapping form at www.futureheights.org.

Sarah Wean is a community volunteer.

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Volume 3, Issue 7, Posted 11:26 PM, 06.23.2010