DNR installs touch-screen kiosks to provide park and trail trip-planning informa

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DNR installs touch-screen kiosks to provide park and trail trip-planning information
(Released August 27, 2010)



Busy Twin Cities’ office workers and shoppers will now find fun outdoor weekends just a touch away. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that several new Minnesota State Parks and Trails touch-screen trip planning kiosks are now up and running in several metro area locations.

With the touch of a few buttons at one of these kiosks, people can now check trail and weather conditions statewide, browse photos and upcoming events, and order free maps and other publications.

 

Kiosks are currently installed at four locations. DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten unveiled and demonstrated the kiosk at the IDS Crystal Court in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday, Aug. 24. Kiosks have also been installed at Southdale Center (in the main courtyard) and at the Minnesota Zoo (in the Main Lodge at the Medtronic Minnesota Trail). One additional kiosk will be located in the DNR building at the Minnesota State Fair, and that kiosk will travel to sports shows and other special events throughout the year.

 

The kiosks have a nature theme and feature information in five languages. As a person approaches the kiosk, a motion-activated window opens and presents several options for getting information about Minnesota state parks, state trails, state forests, water trails, fishing piers, and public water accesses.

 

In keeping with the DNR’s strategic plan, the goal of this project is to connect people with Minnesota’s Great Outdoors in an effort to reverse the declining per-capita participation in outdoor recreation by young adults and their children. Putting touch-screen kiosks in high-traffic, family-oriented locations will capture the attention of young adults (ages 20-40) and children, who are currently underrepresented at Minnesota state parks and trails.

 

This outreach effort was made possible through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.