Tourism, Culture and Recreation
August 18, 2011
Birds Not the Only Tweeters in Five Provincial Parks
A pilot project in five provincial parks is making Internet access available to park users. Dildo Run, J.T. Cheeseman, Frenchman’s Cove, Notre Dame and Pinware River parks have wi-fi available in specific areas in the parks, primarily in the vicinity of park checkpoint sites where the signal is strongest.
“Through our Parks Renewal Strategy, we made a number of significant improvements to enhance the camping experience of provincial park users such as electricity and other amenities,” said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “Part of our ongoing enhancement efforts is listening to recommendations from our camping public, and Internet access has been a recurring request. As a result, we are piloting Internet access in five of our provincial parks, and the feedback to date has been quite positive.”
Internet access in the five parks is free upon request and made available through a password. Users are asked to complete a survey to provide park staff with feedback on their wi-fi experience. Through the pilot project, the reliability of a number of delivery mechanisms is being tested, visitor demand is being gauged, staff feedback is being solicited, and service costs are being reviewed.
“More and more, we are finding that park users want to remain connected to family and friends through social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter, or keep apprised of current events through online news services,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. “Our goal is to make the camping experience in our parks as enjoyable as possible for residents and visitors alike, and aligning our tourism product with the technical world in which we live is an important part of that experience.”
The province's network of provincial parks and natural areas includes 13 camping parks, seven day use parks, the T'Railway Provincial Park, Main River Waterway Provincial Park and 10 park reserves, for a total of 32 provincial parks. In addition to provincial parks, there are two wilderness reserves and 18 ecological reserves that protect significant seabird colonies, rare plants and significant fossil sites.
More information about provincial parks and reserves may be obtained by calling 709-635-4520 or visiting www.gov.nl.ca/env/parks
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Media contacts:
| Melony O’Neill Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 689-0928 moneill@gov.nl.ca |
Diana Quinton Director of Communications Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation 709-729-0928, 631-8155 dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca |
2011 08 18 10:15 a.m.