Case Study: How City of Farmers Branch captured the Magic of a Glow-in-the-Dark Playground

The Project

In 2023, the City of Farmers Branch, Texas embarked on a mission to create a unique playground in Oran Good Park. They envisioned a space that would unite all community members, regardless of age or ability. After gathering insights from community surveys and local children—referred to as “fun experts”—the city developed Joya, meaning “Jewel” in Spanish. The 18,000-square-foot playground features a range of amenities, including a 27-foot climbing sphere, a zipline, obstacle courses, a sensory play area, and even a sound system. But what truly sets Joya apart is its glow-in-the-dark feature, making the park a vibrant hub of activity both day and night.

The Challenge

Constructing a one-of-a-kind park like Joya presented several challenges. Farmers Branch needed to maintain community engagement throughout the process, keep safety a priority on-site, and capture the unique features of the park to showcase to the public. Additionally, the city sought to highlight the playground’s innovative glow-in-the-dark design, which required capturing the park from every possible angle, including aerial views. Keeping the project stayed within budget while meeting these needs added to the complexity.

TrueLook Solution

To address these challenges, Farmers Branch partnered with TrueLook to install a construction camera and leverage drone services. TrueLook provided a comprehensive camera solution that offered high-quality footage, lifetime storage, time-lapse capabilities, and site security. Drone missions captured stunning aerial footage, allowing Farmers Branch to showcase the playground’s features from every angle, particularly highlighting the glow-in-the-dark elements. The real-time monitoring and high-resolution imagery allowed the city to keep the community engaged by sharing regular updates on social media and their website.

The Results

The use of TrueLook’s Fixed 4K IR Camera  and drone missions proved to be a huge success for Farmers Branch. The city was able to build significant community excitement by sharing regular construction updates and providing a live link for locals to watch the progress. The high-quality images and videos, particularly those captured by the drone, effectively highlighted the park’s unique features, including its night time glow. The widespread local media coverage and enthusiastic community response can be attributed to the dynamic visuals provided by TrueLook. The park, funded by various sources including the Federal American Rescue Plan Act and a Texas Parks and Wildlife grant, successfully opened in January 2024, on time and within budget. Today, Joya serves as a vibrant, glowing jewel for the community, reflecting the city’s vision and commitment to creating a space for everyone.