King County IT’s GIS Center recently launched a new app for the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Park Ranger program, marking a significant advancement in how King County monitors and manages park incidents. Built exclusively for DNRP, this tool provides the first centralized system for tracking park rule violations and other incidents – data that will help improve park safety and enhance the visitor experience. The goal is simple yet powerful, to turn Rangers’ “boots on the ground” work into actionable insights for King County leadership.

Using the app, Rangers can now document incidents – such as unleashed dogs in restricted areas – directly from their mobile devices, including phones, tablets, and laptops. Each report is tied to a precise location on a GIS map, creating a detailed record of where and when incidents occur. Back in the office, rangers and Parks leaders can access a dashboard to review data, analyze trends, and visualize patterns geographically. This new capability enables DNRP to allocate resources strategically and respond to issues more effectively.

By transforming field observations into data-driven decisions, this app represents a major step forward in supporting King County Parks and the communities they serve. The Park Ranger app is another example of the hundreds of apps KCIT’s GIS Center supports to help King County employees be more effective in their roles.