New Technology Enhances Sonoran Desert Experience

Posted By Les Conklin on Dec 4, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of McDowell Sonoran Conservance

(Scottsdale, AZ –December 4, 2015) The McDowell Sonoran Conservancyand McDowell Mountain Park have incorporate technology to enable visitors to provide feedback on the trails in both the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve and the McDowell Mountain Regional Park using Instagram.

If visitors encounter trail conditions needing attention, they can use their smartphone to takea picture and then post it to Instagram makingsure theirGPS locator services are on. This will provide the information needed for an Conservancysteward or Park personnel to go out, assess the issue and get any needed maintenance scheduled.

Visitors can also let both the Park, Preserve and other Instagram users know which is their favorite trail and can follow at McDowell Mountain Park #MMRP_AZ and also accessible via Facebook, or McDowell Sonoran Preserve #msptrailfeedback

Also now available, through a free smartphone app called Maprika, are maps for the Scottsdale McDowell Mountain Preserve, McDowell Mountain Regional Park and the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve. These maps provide visitors with their specific trail location when the phone’s GPS location services are turned on.

Visitors will be able to follow along on their cell phone as they explore the region. While paper maps are available at trail heads and for printing from online for the entire McDowell region, Maprika providesanother way for visitors to find their way around the trails in this vast and beautiful area. To get access to these maps, first download the Maprika app. Then search for and download any of these regions; McDowell Mountain Regional Park, McDowell Mountain Regional Trails, McDowell Competitive Track, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Brown’s Ranch -McDowell Sonoran Preserve, McDowell Sonoran Central (Gooseneck), McDowell Sonoran Preserve South Trail Map,or Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve Trail Map.

Uses of these technologies by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy and the McDowell Mountain Regional Park have been implemented to enhance the visitor experience to each of these majestic Sonoran desert areas to have a memorable and safe experience.

The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy has for 24 years championedthe sustainability of Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the largest urban preserve in the nation,for the benefit of this and future generations. As stewards, theConservancyconnectsthe community to the Preserve through education, research, advocacy, partnerships and safe, respectful access. For more information about the Conservancy, or how you can support the work of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, contact Edward Phillips, Director of Development and Communications at 480-998-7971 Ext. 101.