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Virginia First to Deploy GPS Technology System-Wide

On Monday Governor Timothy M. Kaine demonstrated how Virginians will soon be the first in the nation to take virtual tours of their state parks. Governor Kaine unveiled the outdoor interactive kiosk at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. When all information stations are installed in state parks by mid-May, Virginia will be the first state in the country to use the technology statewide.

The stations allow park visitors to access GPS-based trail information, wildlife spotting guides, information on park amenities, printable guides and maps, program descriptions, schedules, and more. The stations will also provide interactive virtual tours of every state park trail. More than 30,000 state park images are included in the programming, and approximately 500 miles of state parks trails have been mapped with global positioning coordinates.

“The amount of information contained in this system really is amazing,” said Governor Kaine. “This system enhances a park visitor’s stay by providing information on the park, nearby attractions, and even local emergency information. These interactive kiosks also can help a visitor plan future visits to our state park system.”

Dominion, one of the nation’s largest producers of energy headquartered in Richmond, is the primary sponsor of the project. Officials from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), managers of the state park system, the Virginia Association for Parks, and Dominion were also on hand for the unveiling.

“This project is truly a public-private partnership,” said DCR director Joseph H. Maroon. “Dominion, our other sponsors and numerous advertisers are making it possible for us to Additional sponsorships and partnerships are helping to offset the $600,000 cost of the project. These partners range from locally owned and operated shops and attractions to national brands. Dominion provided $300,000 from its philanthropic arm, the Dominion Foundation, as the statewide naming sponsor. The Virginia Association for Parks facilitated the grant. 

“This type of cutting-edge technology will allow park visitors to experience in greater detail some of Virginia’s most beautiful locations,” said William C. Hall Jr., vice president of Corporate Communications and Community Affairs at Dominion and president of the Dominion Foundation. “We believe this will immensely increase the accessibility and popularity of Virginia’s State Parks. Dominion is proud to be able to help bring this feature to future park visitors.”

Imperial Multimedia of Baraboo, Wisconsin developed the Virginia State Parks Interpretive Information System, which uses outdoor, weather and vandal resistant interactive touch-screen information kiosks to provide park guests with state park and local attractions information around the clock. The proprietary information program builds on a system that has been successfully used in several Wisconsin State Parks. Virginia is the first state to offer the program statewide.

First Landing State Park was selected for the unveiling as one of the six original state parks and as the site for a historical reenactment of the first landing of the Virginia Company on American soil. The re-enactment and other festivities take place April 26, 2007, as part of the Virginia Beach 2007 celebration.

For more information on the activities and offerings of Virginia State Parks call toll-free 1-800-933-PARK (7275) or visit <www.dcr.virginia.gov/>.

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