Today we’d like to introduce you to Patty Brutten.
Patty, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Years ago, I recognized that while San Diego is a region rich with parks and green space, there was no central resource for San Diegans and visitors to search among these outdoor locations. Information was inconsistent and housed within a variety of public and community-based websites. This posed a significant challenge for San Diegans hoping to get outside, particularly those that did not have the resources or knowledge about what nearby opportunities existed. In an effort to change that, I decided to take action with the help of The San Diego Foundation. Together, we built a first-of-its-kind online tool (GetOutsideSanDiego.org) that allows anyone to easily search through San Diego’s 1,100+ parks and natural spaces to find the best spots to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities. Found at www.getoutsidesandiego.org, individuals can search for outdoor spaces near a specific address or by recreation types, such as locations with playgrounds, good hiking or wildlife viewing.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When we first started the project, we knew that we needed to find a solution that would be available and accessible for San Diegans of all ages. In addition, it had to include every park and open space available across the County, which can be daunting when thinking about a nature-rich region such as San Diego. Thanks to GreenInfo Network, we were able to map all the open spaces in the region and identify the types of activities associated with each. Then, they helped us develop a user-friendly online platform that makes it easy to search and engage with.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
From the beaches and bays to the mountains and deserts, the quality of life San Diego offers is widely defined by its natural beauty and interconnected system of parks and natural areas. Yet not all San Diegans can access our great outdoors and the many benefits nature has to offer. Many low-income, ethnically diverse communities have limited access to parks and open spaces. For those communities, it is not as easy as walking down the street. Instead, families and individuals must search for what outdoor spaces are available within a short drive from their home, which can often create a host of challenges and complications if the information is decentralized and inconsistent. As a philanthropist, I want to help change that by investing in nonprofit programs and innovative solutions that strengthen access to parks and nature for everyone in the region.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.getoutsidesandiego.org/
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