We decided to create an area at the park where people can borrow equipment. Our motivation for why we decided to pursue this project was to increase accessibility for everyone, but especially for lower income families. The ideology behind the project is that it will act like a library, where a person will borrow something during their time at the park and will give it back at the end of the day.

What is the issue?

We are trying to make outdoor equipment more accessible for people in low income families. We believe that accessibility is an issue that many people have. Not everyone has the money to rent out or fully buy equipment. There are people who want to experience and try new sports but they aren’t able to because they don’t have the equipment for it. We believe our idea will allow kids in Cambridge and other areas to have the chance to go out and have fun without worry about having these necessities.

Summary

Overall: How might we improve access to outdoor gear? In doing so, how would we increase interest in outdoor activities?

Research Methods

• Interviewing people
• Survey

Main Purpose of our Project 

• To encourage people to enjoy the outdoors
• Creating an inviting space 
• Increase accessibility for lower income families
• Helping people save money when trying out new hobbies

We tried to solve the problem on many different ways. 

• First what we tried to do was come up with the idea of creating a space where people can borrow equipments while they are at the park.
• The second idea we came up with was how do we keep track of the tools that we lend to the customers. Then we decided to create website/app to keep track what we borrowed them and also to make it easy to connect and keep them updated.

Initial Prototypes

Testing

How did we test our prototype?

• We went to a park close by and set out some chalk. The goal was to see if people would would use the chalk and put it back where they found it. 
• Another testing we did was making an app 

How did you get feedback?

We got feedback by going to the park and checking and by asking questions to the people at the park.

Feedback from the first prototype

• People would like to see things in this park for young children like small toys, balls, bubbles and chalk. 
• This app is helpful but what about the people without phones

Final Prototype

When I had my friends test our second prototype, only minor changes needed to be made, such as outlining the dropdown menus, and adding images to increase visual aesthetics.

Main Features & How We Incorporated Feedback

• Hotline on bottom of page
• Dropdown menu
• By underlining the dropdown menu in usage, we show the user that they’re using the feature
• Pictures
• We tried using bright and clear images to add to the aesthetics

What would you do differently next time?

Something we would like to do differently next time is think of a way to make it entirely hands off especially in the colder months. It could have been like a vending machine style with less equipment that someone could come to periodically to check in and fix it.

What do you like about the project?

We like the idea that if this were to exist, teenagers could work here over the summer and make money. We think it’s a great way to get them outside and doing something while they are also being rewarded for it.

What do you wish you could do with the project?

We wish we could have actually completed this project. Not only is it something that would have increased accessibility for more people, it would have been a great way for people to have to spend less money and products being used to their max capacity.