Mobile Application - 2025
Park & Trails
Park & Trails is a mobile application designed to help users discover local parks and trails that are safe, well-lit, and accessible—especially during evening hours. The app provides real-time safety alerts, lighting status, maintenance closures, and trusted parking info to make outdoor activity planning safer and more informed.
As someone who enjoys early morning and evening outdoor activity, I noticed a lack of digital tools that prioritized safety and visibility during off-peak hours. Park & Trails started as a personal solution, then grew into a full UX case study backed by research, user pain points, and accessibility needs. I designed this app to empower the community to explore with more confidence and fewer risks.
Easily find trails near you based on lighting, distance, safety rating, and recent user reports. Filter by time of day, activity type, or accessibility needs.
Trail detail pages include AI-summarized reviews, lighting scores, safety updates, and parking conditions—helping users make informed decisions before stepping outside.
Real-time updates on lighting, closures, and community-reported incidents. Whether you're planning a walk at dusk or a morning bike ride, Park & Trails ensures you're not left in the dark—literally.
Users contribute reviews, lighting reports, and trail safety tips—building a community-driven network of shared outdoor knowledge.
Discovery
Many Texas parks and trails face real challenges—especially after sunset. Through personal experience and early exploration, I noticed a lack of reliable information on park lighting, trail safety, and closures. I wanted to validate whether others were experiencing the same thing.
I began by reviewing online sources like Reddit, Facebook, Yelp, Google, local news reports. Patterns started to emerge:
These insights confirmed the gap I originally observed—especially for users who enjoy parks in the evening or early morning hours. It was clear that a solution was needed to provide real-time updates on lighting, safety, and closures, empowering people to explore with confidence.
Our Park & Trails app will let users receive real-time updates on trail safety, lighting, maintenance, and parking, which will affect Texas outdoor enthusiasts by enabling them to safely plan park visits, especially during evenings. We will measure effectiveness by tracking user engagement and satisfaction metrics.
Extensive trail databaseRobust filters & user reviewsOffline maps (premium)
Missing real-time safety/lighting updatesAdvanced features locked behind paywallCan feel cluttered with ads
Detailed offline trail dataElevation profiles & statsMedium-sized communityOutdated, clunky UILarge download per city requiredNo real-time updates
Official state park info & alertsTrusted, verified contentEvents & local programsLimited trail-specific detailsBureaucratic design & text-heavyNo real-time safety/lighting dataEmpathize
Based on research, the persona captures key user behaviors, needs, and pain points to inform design decisions and improve usability.
Age: 32
Location: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Marketing Manager
“I love walking in the evenings, but some of these parks don't have adequate lighting for safety.”
Emma is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys walking, hiking, and biking in Texas parks. She frequently explores local trails with her dog and uses parks to stay active, especially in the evening. She is tech-savvy and relies on mobile apps to plan her outdoor activities. Emma values safety, accessibility, and the ability to enjoy outdoor activities in the evening.
Goal: Plan and enjoy a safe, well-lit evening walk in a local park using the Park & Trails app.
| ACTION | Identify Nearby Park | Check Safety & Maintenance | Plan Route & Set Time | Travel to the Park | Start Evening Walk | Wrap Up & Feedback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task List | Open Park & Trails app and filter by park distance, lighting conditions, and user ratings. | Review recent safety reports & notifications. Look for closures and check safety rating score. | Use in-app route planner to avoid closed trails, select an ideal time, and bookmark the route. | Navigate to recommended parking and receive safety alerts. | Check in at the trailhead and follow the guided route. | Confirm end of walk, rate experience, and submit feedback. |
| Feeling Adjective | Hopeful, Curious | Informed, Reassured | Prepared, Organized, Confident | Focused, Anxious | Secure, Focused | Satisfied, Empowered |
| Improvement Opportunities | Quick 'Lighting Score' indicator and visual map of lit areas. | More prominent real-time alerts and a clear 'Safe Parking' label. | Suggest best times based on crowd data and offer multiple route options. | Highlight step-by-step navigation and identify well-lit areas. | Shareable location option, voice/haptic guidance, and an 'emergency contact' button. | Prompt a short survey or star rating and encourage sharing trail issues. |
Mapping out the overall user experience helped identify key interactions, pain points, and moments of delight. This high-level view ensured the design aligned with user needs and real-world scenarios.
Zooming in on specific moments in the journey allowed for a deeper understanding of user behavior, emotions, and potential roadblocks. These insights guided more thoughtful and intuitive design decisions.
Ideate
I kicked off ideation with Crazy 8s, sketching eight quick ideas in eight minutes. This fast-paced approach helped generate diverse solutions and break past initial assumptions.
Next, I structured the app’s Information Architecture, ensuring clear navigation and intuitive user flows for a seamless experience.
Wireframing & Prototype
Each screen reflects a direct response to the challenges discovered in user research—like finding lighting accommodations, receiving safety alerts, and planning evening walks. The wireframes laid the groundwork for a mobile experience focused on safety, clarity, and confidence.
I decided to use the Atomic Design methodology to create a comprehensive design system for Park & Trails. This approach allows for modular, reusable components that can be easily adapted and scaled as the app evolves.
Updated alert notifications along with the added the top keywords to the park details page to help users quickly identify the most relevant alerts. This change was made based on user feedback to enhance the visibility of important information before they visit the park or trail.
Updated contrast on the navigation menu to make it more accessible for user with visual impairments. The black and white contrast was adjusted to ensure better visibility in low-light conditions, making it easier for users to navigate the app during evening hours.
The final UI brings research to life—helping users discover safe, well-lit trails with ease. From real-time safety alerts to lighting filters and community tips, every screen is optimized to make evening or early-morning trail use more informed and intuitive. The design prioritizes trust, accessibility, and a modern mobile experience that puts user peace of mind first.
From selecting a well-lit trail to tracking your route in real-time, Park & Trails is designed to guide every step of your outdoor experience. The interface evolves as the journey progresses—offering progress tracking, lighting details, and confidence-boosting insights like crowd level and sunset time. Once the trip ends, users are encouraged to leave a quick review or safety note, building a helpful loop of community feedback for others. Every detail, from color indicators to route clarity, was designed to keep outdoor enthusiasts safe, informed, and connected.
Working on Park & Trails has been an incredible journey—from early sketches and low-fi wireframes to the polished high-fidelity designs you see today. Throughout the process, I stayed focused on solving real user pain points like safety in low-light conditions and navigating crowded trails. Every phase of the design process taught me the value of user-centered research, iterative testing, and balancing aesthetics with functional clarity.
User-Centered Design Engaging with users and synthesizing feedback was key to creating a solution that truly meets the needs of evening park-goers.
Iterative Testing Frequent usability tests helped refine each screen, ensuring that safety alerts, lighting info, and community features were both intuitive and reliable.
Balancing Aesthetics & Functionality While the visual appeal of the app is important, making sure that every element serves a purpose was my primary goal.
Community Empowerment User contributions not only enriched the content but also built trust—proving that a strong community is the heart of any great app.
Moving forward, I plan to expand on the research phase by conducting in-depth field tests, enhancing real-time data integrations, and further refining community features.My focus will be on optimizing the app's responsiveness and accessibility, ensuring that every user—no matter when or where they use Park & Trails—feels safe and informed.This project has not only honed my skills in UX and UI design but also reinforced my passion for building digital solutions that make a tangible difference in users' lives.
This project has not only honed my skills in UX and UI design but also reinforced my passion for building digital solutions that make a tangible difference in users' lives.