Department of Conservation and Recreation
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Department of Conservation and Recreation
Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 28, 2016
Contact:
Johnny Finch, Virginia Associaton of Parks, 540-895-5061
Creating a partnership for the future of Virginia State Parks
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Association for Parks and Marstel-Day are partnering to help Virginia State Parks plan for the future.
Nationally recognized for innovative approaches to programming and management, Virginia State Parks celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Park leaders and supporters are seeking bold strategies to ensure the needs of park visitors and local communities will be met in the future.
Marstel-Day is a certified woman-owned business with a staff of researchers, analysts, planners, scientists, natural resources managers, real estate experts, and GIS professionals working collaboratively to bring innovative solutions to client requirements.
The Virginia Association for Parks, the non-profit support organization for parks in Virginia, works closely with Virginia State Parks to develop projects that further the cause of parks.
VAFP will work with Fredericksburg-based Marstel-Day to consult with public and private sector organizations and provide innovative and effective solutions for sustainability through research and by developing compatible partnerships.
Martsel-Day will explore ways to increase access to nature and continue to provide a park experience that is meaningful. Their work will go beyond the point of normal “wish list” items to a broader approach of identifying trends and visitor experiences while looking into the corporate world to see what potential fundraising and additional partnerships may exist.
“We are excited about this new partnership and initiative that will permit Virginia State Parks to remain sustainable and relevant to guests well into the 21st Century,” said Virginia State Parks Director Craig Seaver.
Areas of interest include how to best use technology to reach a new generation of visitors, ways to attract and relate to new park users, ideas to overcome nature deficits and childhood obesity through connecting parks to health and fitness opportunities, plans to connect underserved populations to parks, strategies to prepare for the impact of climate change on parks while educating visitors on how to embrace earth-friendly behaviors, and innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for open space and continuing funding challenges.
The first step of this new partnership is a fundraising campaign to begin accumulating resources to develop and implement these projects. You can help guide the future of Virginia State Parks by donating here: https://www.crowdrise.com/virginia-smartparks/fundraiser/virginiaparks. Contributions are tax deductable.
Virginia Association for Parks http://www.virginiaparks.org/
Marstel-Day http://www.marstel-day.com/
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