Augmented Reality Experience Launched at Alberta O. Jones Park

Innovative tool provides education about the environment and civil rights champion Alberta Jones

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Parks Alliance of Louisville, a nonprofit organization driving equitable investment in the city’s public parks, has launched an augmented reality experience at Alberta O. Jones Park in west Louisville. By scanning QR codes on signs throughout the park, visitors experience interactive modules on their mobile phones to learn about environmental topics and the history of civil rights champion Alberta Jones.

“We are committed to bringing exceptional parks to every corner of our community,” said Brooke Pardue, Parks Alliance President & CEO. “This new feature at Alberta O. Jones Park is a great example of how contributions to our organization can be used to leverage Louisville’s expansive park system to provide education and information in a fun and innovative way.” 

The AR park experience was created in partnership with BrainSTEM and the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Alliance was the only Kentucky organization selected for the EPA’s 2023 Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving program designed to build partnerships with the community to address environmental or public health issues.

Alberta O. Jones Park is itself a story of the changing environment. It is in a neighborhood plagued by urban heat island effect and severely impacted by an August 2009 flood when more than seven inches of rain fell in just 75 minutes. Following the flood, MSD secured a FEMA Hazard Mitigation grant that allowed the voluntary buyout and demolition of vulnerable homes. Under the leadership of the Parks Alliance, Phase 1 of a new public park opened in November 2023 on the resulting vacant land. The park was the first in Louisville to offer free public WIFI and has already logged more than 30,000 visits.  Fundraising is underway to transform the remaining 15 acres into useable recreational greenspace which will ultimately span about seven city blocks.

There are 10 interactive AR experiences visitors can launch to learn everything from “What is a carbon footprint?” to the importance of native plants to pollinating birds, bees, and bugs. Four of the modules feature Alberta Jones, the first Black woman to pass the Kentucky bar exam.

“This project at Alberta O. Jones Park is a shining example of how—with the right resources, care, and opportunities—we can eliminate systemic barriers, create powerful learning experiences, and grow equitable communities,” said Kristen Whitaker, Associate Director of Digital Learning for NCFL. “We hope to see more of this kind of innovation to engage families in learning beyond school walls.”

“BrainSTEM is committed to making learning more engaging and effective by providing hands-on, experiential learning,” said COO Kara Mason. “The AR modules at Alberta O. Jones Park make it fun and easy for children and families to learn about a hometown hero and the environment while they enjoy the beauty of this amazing greenspace.”

About

The Parks Alliance of Louisville’s mission is to drive equitable investment in our city’s public parks to improve the health and wellbeing of the entire community. The Alliance supports more than 100 parks and community centers—two-thirds located in underserved neighborhoods. The organization’s biggest fundraising event is Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, happening now through November 2 at Iroquois Park. For more information and tickets, visit: www.jackolanternlouisville.org and www.parksalliancelou.org 

BrainSTEM is an edtech company specializing in creating immersive and interactive educational content that leverages cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 3D game development. BrainSTEM’s mission is to make learning more engaging and effective by providing students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that align with their digital interests and habits.
The organization was founded in Louisville 2019 by former rocket scientist and computer engineer Ricky Mason. For more information, visit www.brainstemedtech.com or email kara@brainstemu.com 

 National Center for Families Learning is a national nonprofit that has worked for more than 35 years to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families. We believe education is a shared, nonpartisan responsibility and that collaboration among families, schools, and community members can lead to powerful learning experiences. NCFL’s vision is to establish coordinated and aligned family learning systems in 60 communities by 2030, built with and for families, to increase education and economic outcomes and create more equitable communities. For more information on NCFL, visit familieslearning.org. To learn more about our vision or become a Family Learning Community partner, visit familieslearning.org/60×30