Major update to Virginia State Parks website to go live on Jan. 9

The Virginia State Parks redesigned website will launch Thursday at 10 a.m. The redesigned site will be more interactive, easier to navigate and faster to search for park-specific offerings. The URL is http://www.virginiastateparks.gov.

    A news release stated, “This is the website’s most significant redesign since it was launched in 1993 by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages the 36 award-winning Virginia State Parks.

    “Over the years – for two decades – we’ve made minor changes to the website in response to public feedback, state policy, industry standards, social media and other factors,” said DCR Web Coordinator Steve Hawks. “But this year-long redesign process is a major overhaul of nearly every aspect of the website, resulting in a streamlined, simpler design.”

    The new design is more user-friendly and will allow users to better customize searches for very specific amenities, while the search results are instantly viewable.

    Last year, the Virginia State Parks website received more than 9.5 million page views, and is among the leading tourism websites in Virginia.

    “With more than 8.8 million visitors last year, Virginia State Parks attract visitors from across the country and around the globe,” said DCR State Parks Director Joe Elton. “For many people, their visit to a state park begins with a visit to our website, so we’re pleased to enhance the experience of both desktop and mobile users with a more responsive design, faster-loading pages and easier access to park photos and videos.”