How Kingman & Heritage Islands Use Soofa on Conservation Land
Kingman and Heritage Islands is a conservation area in Washington D.C., made up of wetlands, walking trails, and parks for the public to enjoy. According to their website, the islands have, “Important and rare ecosystems, including tidal freshwater wetlands, vernal pools, wildflower meadows, and tidal swamp forests. The islands are home to more than 100 different species of birds, mammals, and other wildlife.” The people of Kingman and Heritage islands are on a mission to connect residents of D.C. with the environment through educational programming, and various ways to experience the land.
We spoke to Ed Dunne, Water Quality Manager and Lee Cain, Land Manager for Kingman and Heritage Islands about how their Soofa Sign helps their sustainable efforts, and how the public has responded to it.
Placing an Emphasis on Sustainability
When looking for technology to add to the islands, both Dunne and Cain said that Soofa Signs were attractive because of their solar-powered design. Cain mentioned that there is, “No infrastructure, electricity or water on Kingman and Heritage Islands. So I could see an application for Soofa Signs on urban trails or other types of trails since the sign can power itself with solar energy.”
Dunne also said that, “Sustainability was really important in the decision to get a Soofa Sign.” Cain emphasized that this is because, “Kingman and Heritage Islands is a center for environmental education, and we see that as incredibly important in growing our next generation. We also want to make sure people are aware of environmental issues and have access to the outdoors.”
Delivering the Right Information at the Right Time
Dunne and Cain said that the feature they use most on their Soofa Sign is the water quality widget. Dunne said that, “The fact that we're disseminating water quality information out to folks that are experiencing the island in real time is really powerful, so I'd be interested to see how that's resonating with the public.”
Cain followed with, “The water quality widget has been essential because there are a lot of people who are interested in paddling or fishing or other things while coming in contact with the water. So having that water information is really important for the public to be aware of what's going on.”
Cain also talked about other sustainable and community efforts happening for the islands. He said that, “We try to do a lot of community engagement with our projects and through the sign. The Anacostia Quarter restoration plan is one of the projects that's happening. There's also a wetlands project, where we're going to build and construct amenities on the islands.”
“In every single project, we're asking people to be part of our feedback process to get their input,” Cain continued, “So we see the Soofa Sign as an opportunity to make sure that events for the public as well as those opportunities for community feedback are available. It might be as simple as saying ‘Hey, this event's coming up, here's the QR code to register for the event, or here's the date at which this event comes online.’”
Including Soofa in a Larger Conservation Effort
In addition to their Soofa Sign, Kingman and Heritage Islands have other sustainable technology like barrels that compress trash themselves and notifies when the container is full. In addition, they have a people counter that tracks the number of people who enter the conservation area. Cain stated that, “Since 2018, on average, we've had 75,000 people annually come through the gate, and they’re walking past the Soofa Sign.” Knowing the number of visitors per year gives Dunne and Cain a better idea of how impactful the trails are for people’s wellbeing, and how the land’s condition is.
When asked about how people have reacted to the Soofa Sign, Cain said that, “It's cool when people first notice the sign because it's attractive. They look at it and they think, ‘that's interesting and cool,’ then they get more interested when they realize the sign isn’t paper behind a piece of glass, and that it updates.”
“There's something really attractive about the Soofa Sign, especially in a natural space,” Cain continued, “It doesn't look or feel like an electronic device. It's perfect for Kingman because we're all in nature there trying to get away from technology, and it feels more like a natural option, or mimicking a natural option. Overall, people are really surprised about the Soofa Sign in a positive way. So that’s helpful and interesting to hear.”
Due to Soofa’s solar-powered design, it can work almost anywhere. Kingman and Heritage Islands is a great example of how technology can aid natural spaces without being a distraction.
Interested in learning more about how Soofa Signs can help your community? Fill out our landowner interest form or email hi@soofadigital.com
Written by: Ally Peters
Ally is a Content Marketing Specialist at Soofa and spends her days researching and reporting on current trends in smart city infrastructure and OOH media.