New Online Gowanus Mapping Tool Lets You Tell The City What You Like (And Don't)

GOWANUS, BROOKLYN — As the city looks to take in as much feedback as possible on the future of Gowanus, it's adding another way for people to submit their own.

The Department of Planning just launched Plan Gowanus, an online mapping tool that lets people drop pins on things they like (and don't like) in the neighborhood.

"The Department of City Planning is piloting an online engagement platform called Plan Gowanus where you can give your input on a variety of topics in new interactive ways," an announcement from the city says. "Plan Gowanus is part of the multi-pronged outreach approach developed in response to feedback from the community."

The tools actually looks pretty easy to use. After you drop a "What I like" or a "What I think needs improvement" pin on a location on the map, you get a comment box along with a field for your name and "screen name."

You can also see what other people have suggested.

For example, at Third Avenue and Third Street, user "SNP" writes: "The Old American Can Factory is an historic 130,000 square foot, six-building manufacturing and arts complex. I would love to see more of these types of buildings in Gowanus."

And on Huntington Street at the Gowanus Canal, user "Zavery" says, "Green Space at the dead-end could be used for water access and park space by taking the end of the street and turning it into a park."

Want to add your own feedback? Click here to get started.

Image: Screenshot of Plan Gowanus