OpenStreetMap US

Targeted mapping for community partners

In our Mapping for Impact program, OpenStreetMap US partners with civic, social, and environmental organizations in the US to help them leverage the power of OpenStreetMap.

By telling us where things are, maps help us find what is missing.

Maps have become critical tools for addressing today’s challenges around equity and justice. However, organizations addressing these issues often find that the geospatial data they need is incomplete, costly, or even missing altogether. OpenStreetMap can fill this gap by providing mission-driven organizations with free, open data powered by a global volunteer community.

Through Mapping for Impact, OpenStreetMap US connects organizations needing data for their cause with our community of volunteers through mapping campaigns, events, and educational materials. So far, volunteers have made an impact by mapping:

  • Every playspace in Philadelphia in just 6 weeks - totaling 3,290 playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields, and more
  • Parks & playgrounds in underserved areas of Colorado in support of the Colorado Health Foundation’s health equity efforts
  • 40,000+ swimming pools in New York City to improve equitable access to water safety education

Our Impact Partners

OpenStreetMap US works with national and local-level partners including:

KABOOM! logo Rising Tide Effect logo

Become a Partner

Whether you’re striving for equal access to healthy food or conserving wetlands in urban areas, we want to help you leverage OpenStreetMap data to advocate, communicate, or identify your needs. For more details, download our Partner guide here.

Map

Contribute to our Mapping for Impact projects on the OSM US Tasking Manager.

News and talks

Healthy Communities

Oct 26, 2022 · Jing-Huei Huang and Aaron Hipp

Join us to hear Jing-Huei Huang and Aaron Hipp from NC State University discuss the ground truthing and use of OSM playspace data in Colorado to understand and improve play equity. This...

Mapping for Equitable Access to Swimming with Rising Tide Effect

May 24, 2022 · Kate Krause and Jess Beutler

Rising Tide Effect is a 501c3 nonprofit that seeks to bring positive change to underserved communities through the aquatic experience. OpenStreetMap US is partnering with Rising Tide Effect as part of Mapping...

OpenStreetMap and Open Data, the future of public realm data & data literacy

Mar 7, 2022 · Maggie Cawley, Ariel Kadouri, Zhi Keng He, and Guillaume Rischard

This OpenStreetMap panel was recorded at NYC School of Data 2022, organized by BetaNYC. OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free editable geographic database of the world. Over the...

Mapping for Playspace Equity in Philadelphia with KABOOM!

Jul 30, 2021 · Kevin Paul and Jess Beutler

KABOOM! is a national nonprofit that works to end playspace inequity, the systemic lack of access to quality spaces for play along racial and economic lines, through community-led playground builds. OpenStreetMap US...

Parks & Recreation

Jul 14, 2021 · Elliott Plack and Colleen Coyne

This OpenStreetMap US Virtual Mappy Hour features guest speakers Elliott Plack (volunteer with Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park) and Colleen Coyne (Senior Analyst at KABOOM!) discussing mapping for parks & recreation...