Snow Removal Dashboard

The Parks and Recreation Department works hard to clear snow in over 230 parks, all within three hours of a snowfall. In 2024, their tracking method used phone calls, texts, and spreadsheets to track progress - leading to delays, duplicate work, and inconsistent records. 

Parks had the staff and skill to clear winter debris quickly, but needed a system to make it happen. To address this problem, we knew a digital solution could save time, improve coordination, and make Boston’s parks safer and more accessible during the winter.

We replaced the manual tracking system with a digital solution:

• Inspectors and contractors can quickly fill a new Google Form out in the field to report when a park has been cleared. Each submission includes timestamps, park details, and optional photos, making it easier to verify work.
• These responses feed directly into a Power BI dashboard that provides real-time updates on snow removal progress. The dashboard shows which parks are cleared, who completed the work, and when. A color-coded map view allows leadership to visually track progress across Boston’s neighborhoods and maintenance regions.
• To make the data more actionable, we added filters for specific date ranges and regions. This allows teams to monitor progress based on the exact timing of a snowstorm and plan resources accordingly.
• The dashboard also includes summary statistics and detailed tables that can be exported and used for internal reports or operational reviews. These tools help the Parks Department prioritize efforts, allocate staff more efficiently, and reduce oversight time.

The new system transformed snow removal operations with remarkable results. In its first year of use, staff inspection time was slashed from 30 hours to 6 hours per storm, while administrative work was eliminated entirely. Code enforcement violations issued to City-owned properties plummeted from 150-200 per storm to just 8 per storm.