I nominated a MAN MADE pond/walking path and the appeal keeps getting denied because it’s a “natural feature” I CLEARLY stated it is man made on my appeal, it’s literally perfect for all the criteria it’s just like any other park except for it has a water feature and no sign stating a name, I’m now at 8? Declines and no successes, is there a point to doing this at all? I wasn’t lazy either I waited for sunny days to get pictures and avoided any people or animals
Hello. You have clearly invested a lot of time in this nomination. We experienced Wayfinders would love to help you figure out how to improve this nomination. The Wayfarer staff aren’t necessarily going to tell you how to improve it.
Could you post screenshots of the whole nomination, including title, cover photo, description, location map, supplemental photo, and supplemental information?
I assume that you are going for the “Explore” criteria?
Why are people visiting this location?
Is there any infrastructure to allow that?
My own opinion is even if it is “Man Made” it does not look ornamental which leaves me to think it was created to prevent flooding?
If that isn’t the case then it what you need to convince with your photos / info.
Good Luck.
It’s a path made to connect the neighborhood, all of the gravel is pathway for walking
If it’s man-made it’s man-made them denying it for being a natural feature does not at all tell me what to fix because it’s not correct at all, and are you saying if the pond looked nicer it would be accepted? Doesn’t that just encourage people to upload AI photos that guarantee acceptation?
It isn’t man made v made by natural means.
The idea of ponds that have been made by landscaping is that they become naturalised. And that if you walk around you not looking at concrete blocks but you are looking at grass, water, trees in other words nature.
This pond looks a Sump pond which are built in modern estates to cope with heavy rainfall to avoid flooding. So they have a function.
A simple sump pond is not likely to meet criteria,
Some areas around such ponds act as parks and may have picnic areas or a nature trail. Those sort of things add to it changing it from mainly functional into a place to meet, relax and enjoy.
I am just trying to state why your nomination might have been rejected, you can take what we say on board or not. Your choice.
Remember that all waypoints must encourage 1 of the following…
- Socialise.
- Exercise.
- Explore.
We say “encourage” because just being able to do the above is not enough.
I can exercise, socialise and explore on the pavement at the front of my house, still not a good nomination.
As stated above by @elijustrying …
You say that the gravel is for walking, is there a named trail? is there any signs? if not is the trail mentioned on any official website.
Is there anything here to make people want to come and stay (socialise).
We will try and help if you want but we can only give advice…
The entire area surrounding the pond is a trail made for people to walk and see nature they could have just put a gated off sump pond there. so a nature trail is okay but a natural pond that isn’t natural but actually man-made isn’t, cool not confusing at all
you’re ignoring that they denied it for a reason that does not apply to the photos and description I provided which is the point of the post
The reason is not the clearest (quite normal for Niantic) but the outcome is the same.
The nomination does not meet criteria.
You can argue the wording but it still won’t get you a wayspot.
I will step back as it seems that any advice I have given is not welcome.
Good Luck.
Ponds however they are made are often not eligible on their own.
Nothing is an automatic accept. Each wayspot needs to demonstrate why this is a great place to go to.
It sounds as though the focus is on the trail? Trails are good as they meet exercise criteria. So if you can make a case for the trail at this point and find an anchor point for the map pin. That is starting to meet criteria.
I never asked for advice on how to get it accepted I’m trying to voice my frustration about my nominations being denied for a reason that does not apply? I understand that it didn’t get through for the reasons you are saying, what I am saying is it’s frustrating that it denied my appeal automatically as if it was not looked at
Dude I am trying to tell you that the point of the post is me being frustrated by the process and that I don’t like the system in place not that I want to fight with getting denied more
Maybe it’s me being autistic but man-made features are different and I don’t like the rules ignoring that, and the two of you are treating the pond I sit and watch the birds at everyday a sump pit 
Sorry for not fully grasping and thanks for clarifying that it is about the frustration of language used in the process not meeting a meaning.
The reasons and therefore feedback given to submitters is really important. Wayfinders should be able to learn from it and anything that puts up a barrier to that learning is not helpful. And it causing frustration in the person receiving it is not good.
Your message has been heard.
Thank you I appreciate that, I’m sorry to I could have handled my replies better