IssueTracker

Feature Request
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Dear Google Maps & Places API Team,

I am writing to propose an enhancement in the organization and discoverability of several existing categories within Google Maps that support community engagement and environmental sustainability. While essential resources like Food Bank, Recycling Center, Recycling Drop-Off Location, Charity, Donation Center, Community Center, Community Garden, Community Park, Community School, Community Health Center, Drinking Water Fountain, and Volunteer Organization are already available in the Places API, they are often hard to locate due to the lack of broader, discoverable categories.

Suggested Solution:

To improve user experience and accessibility, I recommend grouping these valuable resources under two intuitive, high-level added categories: Community and Sustainability. This will allow users to locate important resources more efficiently, reinforcing Google Maps’ role as a tool for positive social and environmental impact.

Additionally, I propose adding a few new subcategories to address growing needs in community support and sustainability. Here is the suggested organization:

Proposed Discoverable Categories and Subcategories

1. Community

• Food Bank: Locations providing food assistance and accepting food donations.
• Charity: Organizations focused on supporting those in need through donations and resources.
• Donation Center: Facilities accepting various goods, such as books, furniture, and other items.
• Clothes Donation Box: Specific locations for clothing donations to be reused or redistributed.
• Community Centers: Spaces for social support, local events, and resources.
• Community Gardens: Green spaces for urban gardening and local agriculture.
• Community Parks: Public recreational areas for relaxation and community gatherings.
• Community Schools: Educational institutions supporting community education and growth.
• Community Health Centers: Health facilities providing wellness services for the community.
• Volunteer Organizations: Locations coordinating volunteer work and community outreach.
• Community Fridge (new subcategory): Shared refrigerators for food sharing, reducing waste, and supporting those in need.

2. Sustainability

• Recycling Center: Facilities offering comprehensive recycling services for various materials.
• Recycling Drop-Off Location: Specific locations for users to drop off recyclable items, such as electronics, batteries, and plastics.
• Recycling Machines (new subcategory): Machines that accept specific recyclable items (e.g., plastic bottles or cans) and often provide incentives, promoting recycling behavior.
• Drinking Water Fountains: Public refill stations, encouraging the use of reusable bottles to reduce plastic waste.
• Community Water Source (new subcategory): Publicly accessible water taps, supporting reduced plastic usage.
• Composting Sites (proposed for future expansion): Locations for composting organic waste, fostering sustainable waste management practices.

Why This Matters:

These resources play a crucial role in supporting communities and encouraging sustainable practices. Many of these categories already exist in the Places API; however, they are not easily discoverable for users. By organizing them under Community and Sustainability headers, Google Maps can provide an intuitive structure that makes it easier for users to find and utilize these resources.

Adding a few new subcategories like Clothes Donation Box, Community Fridge, Community Water Source, and Recycling Machines would further align with current user needs and promote positive community and environmental practices. Community fridges are recommended by food rescue organizations; by placing community fridges on Google maps’ Places API Google would be leading in terms of contribution to community food sustainability by providing end users a platform to pin and locate these resources.

Thank you for considering this proposal to enhance Google Maps’ impact by making community and sustainability resources more accessible and discoverable for users.