The makers of Pokémon Go, touted for its potential to activate sedentary Americans since its release last year, will take more initiative to participate in community-based events.
"Niantic, the maker of Pokémon Go, is teaming up with the Knight Foundation in a multiyear commitment promoting civic engagement in communities," reports Mark Wilson.
"That means the two entities will pitch in time, money, and plenty of Pokémon to get citizens outside, exploring their towns in city-organized events," adds Wilson.
The first such event was already held in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 7, during an Open Streets event:
Pokémon Go will provide a virtual layer atop this walk for those who want to play, but the map was designed by the community: The City of Charlotte chose 16 existing PokéStops and two Gyms to highlight along this route, promoting spaces like a rose garden and veterans’ park, while players enjoy the more frequent appearance of some Pokémon for those trying to catch ’em all.
The article includes more of how Pokémon Go will leverage its popularity to inspire activity and engagement in communities. The game has seen a resurgence of news coverage lately, after a study last month found positive outcomes from the game's release last year.
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
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