By Anna Skinner
Noblesville’s Parks and Recreation Department is now in Apple’s App Store.
The new, free application came out a few weeks ago through REACH Media and will be used to inform park goers about the Parks and Rec program. It also keeps participant or event goers up to speed and provides information so users can learn about the parks, programs and events.
“I think we heard about the mobile app option at our national conference last fall,” Mike Hoffmeister, assistant director for Noblesville Parks and Recreation, said. “Having smart phones was the way to get connected in a better way. As soon as it was pitched to us, we started considering it very heavily. Everybody carries around phones these days, it was almost a no brainer for us.”
REACH Media is also the program for the TV screens in the Noblesville parks. The application and the media screens are tied together.
“It’s all one vendor that helps us inform our participants better,” Hoffmeister said.
He said it took a few months to develop the app, but the effort was worth it. Push notifications are also a plus, so if any event changes or if parks are closed, those notifications will alert participants.
The app is still in the process of being approved for Android phones, but should be out soon via Google Play.
“If someone wants to be connected to parks in better way rather than Facebook and Twitter, they can know everything we’re doing currently through the mobile app,” Hoffmeister said. “If they want to be involved in our movie series or the concerts, everything will be listed on the app. We also have an up to date trail map. Anybody who is interested in anything we do should download the app.”
