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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY FOR ITS RECEIPT OF THE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARD FROM THE AT&T AND GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE
WHEREAS, in August 2021, Commissioner Bridget Degnen nominated the Forest Preserves of Cook County (“Forest Preserves”) for a technology award for the Forest Preserves’ excellent work in developing a user-friendly Interactive Web Map; and
WHEREAS, in September 2021, the Forest Preserves’ Interactive Web Map received a Technology Innovation Award in the Citizen Category from the Special Districts Awards Program sponsored by AT&T and Government Technology magazine; and
WHEREAS, the award program recognizes innovation and leadership within special district agencies across the nation and the Citizen Category specifically recognizes special districts that have used technology to improve service delivery to citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves strives to ensure that green spaces and public lands are accessible to all and that local communities feel welcome in those areas; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves developed a user-friendly interactive web map to help visitors easily plan trips and navigate forest preserves trails; and
WHEREAS, visitors may search the interactive web map based on location or activity, view associated amenities and activities available at each location, and access additional information including preserve and trail descriptions, closure information, and directions; and
WHEREAS, with funding made possible from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Healthy Hotspot initiative led by the Cook County Department of Public Health, the Forest Preserves partnered with Smart Chicago (now City Tech Collaborative) to build this custom interactive web map on open source code pioneered by Code for America, a national civic technology non-profit; and
WHEREAS, since launching the interactive web map in March 2017, the Forest Preserves has continued to improve the map including adding an alert system in 2018, allowing employees to post closure and alert notices to inform visitors of conditions that might impact a visit, and, in 2021, adding accessible amenities and information; and
WHEREAS, the interactive web map, accessible via computer, tablet and mobile device, has been a popular tool for visitors with more than 250,000 people using the map to plan a visit to the forest preserves in 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves’ interactive web map is an excellent example of a technological innovation and greatly improves the accessibility of the forest preserves to both Cook County residents and visitors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Bridget Degnen, and the Board of Commissioners do hereby thank and congratulate the Forest Preserves staff and its partners in honor of its receipt of the Special District Technology Award in advancement of the mission of the Forest Preserves.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to participating staff and partners as a token of appreciation for their service to the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the residents of Cook County.
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