Invasive species mapping in BOS:311 app
Resident asks for a BOS:311 feature to report and map invasive species, with possible volunteer removal crews, to help low-income homeowners affected by plants like Japanese knotweed.
English title and summary written with AI from the resident's text.
The resident's idea, as submitted
The idea
Add a feature to the BOS-311 App which would allow users to submit and map invasive species; the city may choose to follow up with the introduction of volunteer removal crews
Who it helps and why
Invasive species are harmful in low income communities where the employment of professional crews to remove them would prove a disproportionate financial burden; Japanese knotweed in particular risks damaging the structural foundations of homeowners, which would prove a disproportionate financial burden on low-income families relative to the fiscal capacity of the city. Were the city to intervene with a popular feature to identify and map species, and organize volunteer removal crews, affected homeowners would be removed of the burden of invasive species removal, thereby freeing more families to participate in the local economy
Details
- Cycle
- 2026–27
- Submitted
- July 15, 2026
- Neighborhood
- City-wide
- Portal category
- Facilities
- How it was submitted
- Individual submission
- Submission language
- English
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text.
The same need in other cycles
City-wide ideas in Libraries, digital & civic life from the other cycles, up to 3 from each.
2025–26 (46 matching)
- Free Wi-Fi stationsProvide free Wi-Fi stations to help people who cannot afford internet access.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Little free libraries in Boston neighborhoodsPlace little libraries around neighborhoods to make books easier for everyone to access.2025–26City-wide
- Voter engagement pop-ups in Black and Brown communitiesResident proposes pop-up events across the city where elected and appointed officials meet residents face to face, to rebuild trust and raise voter turnout in Black and Brown communities.2025–26City-wide
2024–25 (45 matching)
- Civics and political education at community centers for kidsResident wants community centers to teach children civics and political engagement so they understand they can change their communities.2024–25City-wide
- Free public Wi-Fi on transit and in parksResident asks for high-speed public Wi-Fi on public transportation and in parks so people who cannot afford costly data plans can access information.2024–25City-wide
- Community events fund for residentsResident asks for a fund that individual residents can apply to for hosting community events without needing nonprofit status or a sponsor, since accessible event funding is lacking.2024–25City-wide