How placement planning works

Choose a county, compare the number of boxes you can fund, and inspect the places selected by the model.

From county data to a proposal

Select a state and county. The app loads county boundaries, youth demand, and candidate locations.
Compare budgets. The model minimizes the total distance between demand points and selected boxes, with optional child-poverty weighting.
Open site details. Review demand, data limitations, and walking directions before a site visit.
Export the JSON report or GeoJSON. Use that evidence when discussing the proposal with site owners.

What the numbers mean

Youth are represented at tract centers. Distances are straight-line distance multiplied by 1.35, not measured pedestrian routes. A short estimated distance can still cross a highway, river, or inaccessible property.

Small candidate sets can be solved exactly for these inputs. Larger sets use a limited search and report whether it converged. A mathematical optimum does not establish that a location is safe or permitted.

The Fairfax starting example uses modeled demand. Other counties use ACS estimates and OpenStreetMap sites when complete data is available.

Before installing a box

Confirm the actual entrance, owner permission, accessible paths, visibility, flood risk, and a person responsible for upkeep. Check nearby libraries and existing book boxes; those services are not currently included in the model.

Read common questions