For a feature so important to the game, why is it so impossible to influence or change where gyms appear? Although there are rumors about how a gym is selected within a cell, these are of dubious veracity (and completely unknown to 99% of players), and even then, if the gym happens to spawn in a bad location within the cell, there is nothing to be done, as gym promotion is basically permanent. For example, in my area, there is a park with many wayspots where many locals play. However, it has gotten relatively “unlucky”, as although the park has the majority of the wayspots within the L14 cell, the gyms happened to spawn across a highway, making it hard to access for those who like to play at the park. This random outcome has hurt players’ enjoyment of the game and decreased engagement with core features: raids and gym battles.
I propose a system where players who are active in an area can vote to change the location of gyms within a cell once a year. A year-long masterwork-like research could be created to give the player a “ballot” by completing tasks like raids, spinning stops, gym battles, and catching Pokémon. These ballots would be cell-specific and limited to a certain number per player. Every year, local players can vote and possibly coordinate where to place gyms within a cell. To minimize the effects of bad actors, a supermajority could be required to move gyms at all; otherwise, they would stay where they were originally.
I believe a system like the one described above, or really any system to influence gym placement, would greatly increase engagement in Pokémon Go, as well as make the game more “fair” for all.