Site permission: I am still confirming whether the identified field sites require permission or permits before conducting observations or survey outreach.
Participant approach: I need to be mindful and respectful when approaching people in public spaces, since participation is voluntary and not everyone may feel comfortable responding.
Limited non-dog owner responses: Because the survey is currently online, most responses may come from dog owners or dog walkers, while non-dog owners may be less likely to participate.
Identifying interview participants: Another challenge is determining the most appropriate people to interview, including dog owners, dog walkers, park staff, stormwater staff, environmental educators, HOA representatives, and other community members.
Some older visitors were hesitant to scan the QR code or complete the survey. In one case, a visitor asked whether personal information, such as an email address or phone number, would be recorded, and this privacy concern discouraged him from participating.
Getting people to move from curiosity to actual survey participation was challenging, especially when they had concerns about privacy or about whether personal information would be collected or shared.