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So excited to see this on Hacker News! Brief Shoutout for anyone who would like to see a better online experience for our National Parks System: 1. write into

by mceoin 7y ago

So excited to see this on Hacker News! Brief Shoutout for anyone who would like to see a better online experience for our National Parks System: 1. write into rec.gov asking for a booking API! 2. join accessland.org 3. build apps using Rec.gov's availability API (disclaimer: I'm involved with accessland.org)

kpennell 7y ago
Can you elaborate? You want us to help you build apps or get them to make an API or?
- mceoin 7y ago
  There is an information and availability API for the federal parks system. The more people build apps that people use, the more examples we have to demonstrate the utility of this API in providing better experience to the public, and reinforcing the "Govt as a platform, via APIs" narrative. The Federal Parks system took the first step in creating an availability API (with an intention to open up bookings via API as well). California then forked the language (with minor revisions), so they are slated to have an Availability API "soon" (who knows when it will actually come). This sets precedent at the federal and state level for parks, and also establishes a data schema that all the other state, county, city, local govt parks can build into, which would allow us to have a fully integrated discovery system for the public when looking for places to get outside. A big part of persuading governments to follow is showing examples of what's possible, and the Rec.gov information & availability API, however limited, enables 3rd parties to do just that.
krilly 7y ago
What with all the talk about bot abuse in this thread, an API may not be a good idea
- mceoin 7y ago
  currently it's only an information and availability API (can't make a booking). This _does_ make it easier to run a bot, but it also means that rec.gov servers aren't getting hammered by bots either, which is good for them. An advantage of an API is that keys can be revoked for bad actors, so it at least gives some measure of control where there was none before. I tend to agree that the lottery is the way to go for popular sites instead of first-to-book; it's fair and stops older folks from never getting a booking because they don't know how to build a faster bot. There are a few other very effective hacks that I am loathe to publish here, but there _are_ ways to get sites for the determined.

by mceoin 7y ago

kpennell 7y ago

Can you elaborate? You want us to help you build apps or get them to make an API or?

mceoin 7y ago
There is an information and availability API for the federal parks system. The more people build apps that people use, the more examples we have to demonstrate the utility of this API in providing better experience to the public, and reinforcing the "Govt as a platform, via APIs" narrative. The Federal Parks system took the first step in creating an availability API (with an intention to open up bookings via API as well). California then forked the language (with minor revisions), so they are slated to have an Availability API "soon" (who knows when it will actually come). This sets precedent at the federal and state level for parks, and also establishes a data schema that all the other state, county, city, local govt parks can build into, which would allow us to have a fully integrated discovery system for the public when looking for places to get outside. A big part of persuading governments to follow is showing examples of what's possible, and the Rec.gov information & availability API, however limited, enables 3rd parties to do just that.

krilly 7y ago

What with all the talk about bot abuse in this thread, an API may not be a good idea

mceoin 7y ago
currently it's only an information and availability API (can't make a booking). This _does_ make it easier to run a bot, but it also means that rec.gov servers aren't getting hammered by bots either, which is good for them. An advantage of an API is that keys can be revoked for bad actors, so it at least gives some measure of control where there was none before. I tend to agree that the lottery is the way to go for popular sites instead of first-to-book; it's fair and stops older folks from never getting a booking because they don't know how to build a faster bot. There are a few other very effective hacks that I am loathe to publish here, but there _are_ ways to get sites for the determined.