How do we pick a single base map for a community trail map project?

[Frank28]

I’m trying to organize a community-led restoration of our local park’s trail maps, but I’ve hit a wall trying to get everyone to agree on a single, editable base map to work from. Some volunteers are using specialized GIS tools, others just want a simple online document, and the coordination is becoming a real mess. I’m worried this lack of a shared starting point will just scatter our efforts.

[JacobW]

We tried a shared map for the trail project and it devolved into a mess with edits and versioning. Some folks updated coordinates while others edited text and we kept stepping on each other.

[NoahJ]

One of us uses GIS tools and wants a proper base map, but a lot of volunteers just want a simple online document. The gap kept pulling us apart.

[Nathan_M]

We set a base file and told folks to add notes as overlays, but file formats clashed and some people could not open the latest version.

[JacobJ]

A teammate suggested keeping it minimal a base layer plus a linked editable sheet for comments and changes. We tried it for a while but then someone altered the projection and the lines stopped matching.

[Jacob_M]

I keep wondering if the map is the real bottleneck or if we are fighting about the wrong thing?

[Jeffrey.L]

During a weekend cleanup a volunteer mentioned trail signage and we drifted to talk about colors and fonts and then circled back to the map issue