So, I’ve been taking the train out to nearby suburbs and seeing what nominations I can do in an easy walk from the train station. I’ve noticed certain places that are not Wayspots yet, but that are pretty easy to support–the sort of places locals may not be thinking of when they nominate the obvious things like statues/plaques/historical buildings:
- yoga studios (great place to socialize/exercise)
- martial arts studios (great place to socialize/exercise)
- escape rooms (great place to socialize)
- specialty schools with classes for adults as well as kids; e.g. music or dance school that does classes for adult students as well as kids (great place to socialize/explore)
- ballrooms at hotels (great place to socialize/explore; supporting photos can include a list of upcoming events)
- makerspace in library (great place to explore/socialize)
- indoor golf simulations (great place to exercise/socialize, especially if they serve food and drinks)
- bowling alleys (great place to exercise/socialize, especially if they serve food and drinks)
- banquet halls and other event spaces (great to socialize, possibly also to explore)
- stained glass (great to explore, similar to murals. Can be good to get a second waypoint at a church)
- cultural community centers; e.g. Romanian Heritage Center, Bulgarian Cultural Center (great to socialize and explore, easy to support with website links and information)
This is absolutely a non-exhaustive list, of course, but these are some things that people who feel they lack good places for pokestops might not have thought of. I’m curious what has been “left on the ground” by all of y’all.
Mine is the opposite of the ground.
I found when I first started submitting that “people don’t look up”. Crests, plaques, fancy stonework that’s been there since the 1700s.
I don’t have as many of those, and not nearly as old, but I have had a couple examples of “ooh, what’s that up there?”
oh whats up there is always gold thinking 
@PkmnTrainerJ and @darkersolstice
Solstice… I have been real poor at getting good stained glass photos. If you see a nom that worked love to see it. I think I need a camera camera to get those shots My phone is p-poor at those (rather may be more me 
Sounds weird. I have got oldest readable gravestone. I have last person hanged for arson.
I like to spend time on local history. Then work from there with Listed buildings/Protected sites lists both at local, regional and national level. Local council websites can be well helpful. I think a lot of stuff is missed. Just avoid any listing that is emergency, danger, military, school, private property then game on
Love your point about local history! I’ve definitely gotten a few things on the map by referencing the Landmarks Illinois page, or looking up information about church history. I’ve also chucked in some Forest Preserve District markers that are great boundary points between county-protected forest land and general public property.
Anyway, for stained glass, if possible it’s best to get the picture from indoors. This was taken with a standard cell phone camera (though I admit, I do select phones for camera quality):
For this one, I took a supplemental photo from outside to help pin down location:
This is one I did recently. It’s not a fancy phone camera.
The key is to walk around every street and allayway in both directions - you see things differently. And once you find something talk to people and do research. And accept that not everyone will find something as interesting as I do straightaway……they just need convincing 
I can add “look up and behind the enormous wall”. How did this not get submitted before?! Especially since someone did submit the Banksy of a prisoner escaping on the wall a few years ago 
In my experience they’re more difficult to nominate and get approved but historical buildings are great examples of wayspots “left on the ground”.
Don’t just look at the better known obvious historical buildings (think Grade 1 listed in “UK speak”). Especially in smaller communities there are often buildings with notable local historic significance that can make great wayspots. This will usually require some research either on the internet or at a local library or historical society.
I have found that talking to more elderly neighbors and friends is a great starting point in identifying possible historical wayspot nominations.
Out driving with my girlfriend today, we passed a couple examples of something I forgot: American Legions, VFW posts, Elks Lodges and Masonic Temples. Those are a great sort of spot in rural areas, great for socializing and exploring.
As a suburban Southern California player… I have been astonished how many I have been able to add in my neighborhood, specifically swimming pools and other common area items in multi-family residential communities (apartment complexes and mobile home parks). (Basketball and tennis courts, dog parks, play structures, and canopied picnic tables as well.)
That said, there are quite a few of the same still “on the ground” due to being in gated complexes that I haven’t been able to access (yet; often I’m able to catch gates open during the day on weekdays, probably for delivery services? Particularly when they are automated driveway gates, rather than pedestrian gates).
So far, I’m already responsible for about a quarter of the wayspots in my neighborhood (33 out of about 125) and have another 15 or so identified (swimming pools visible via satellite imagery) but not submitted, and 5 currently pending. And I just started last September.
I’m sure plenty of people have submitted plenty of those things you mentioned, only to get slapped with “generic business” by the reviewers.
Sure. Which is when you appeal, or edit your submission to make it clearer you’re nominating something not just eligible but worthy of acceptance. The topic of reviewer education is not a “gotcha” on the list of places that people might not have thought of nominating.
Everything in the original post is something that I have, personally, nominated and had accepted by local reviewers. If there’s anything in particular that you’re struggling with, I’d be delighted to show you my nomination with all the supporting information I used.
Adding to an older topic…
If you know what to look for (specifically the square and compass with a G in the middle) former Masonic lodge buildings also can make great submissions. You may have to do a little bit of research, but frequently these could qualify under the exploration criterium as historic buildings. This is also the type of thing you might find in a smaller town that once had an active local Masonic lodge, but has since disbanded with the former lodge building remaining.
(Image taken from Google street view)
Some are even less subtle about it:
(The pharmacist on that corner there is now a great Polish bakery that I would nominate if the building as a whole wasn’t already in game.)
I thought of this topic as I was working on this nomination that just got approved… I remembered to look up!
Full disclosure, 30+ years ago I was a member of Euclid Lodge #65 AFAM in Naperville, IL, not that far from DesPlaines. This is what their lodge building looks like now.
If not already in game, either the Masonic Temple itself, or the ground level store, could qualify as POIs.
So could the statue in front of the store. If I ever get to Naperville, I’ll ensure that happens, but I don’t currently have a car. Still, it’s always neat to see former masonic temples. :3
Euclid Lodge is still active. That temple is still in use. 
I kind of deliberately skipped over the statue in front of the store. Some might look unfavorably on it with the fire hydrant also being right there.
