City Announces RVA Parks Mobile Phone Application

Mayor Dwight C. Jones has announced the launch of the city of Richmond’s first smart phone application. RVA Parks was launched during the ‘Get Healthy – Stay Healthy’ Health Expo at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Saturday, April 28. This easy to use application provides searchable information, maps and directions to city parks, playgrounds and community centers using the following search criteria:

· Athletic Fields

· Baseball/Softball Fields

· Basketball Courts

· Community Centers

· Lighted Areas

· Playground Shelter or Park house

· Restrooms

· Swimming/Spray Pools

· Tennis Courts

· Tot Lots, and Walk/Exercise Trails

“This mobile app allows city residents and visitors alike to gain detailed information about our city’s great parks, facilities and amenities, while re-emphasizing the City’s efforts of developing new technologies to enhance our customers’ service experiences,” said Mayor Jones. “RVA Parks also provides walking and driving directions along with bus routes from each user’s current location which further enhances the experience.”

RVA Parks was created by the City’s Department of Information Technology following a review of smart phone usage to access city parks information on the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities website. The application can be used on Apple iPhones, Apple iPads and Android phones. The application is available for download in the Apple Store or in the Google Play Store. To view a tutorial on how to use the RVA Parks application, please visit: RVA Parks.

RVA Parks also provides a new mobile medium to communicate with the City about the parks system. City residents can report issues using 3-1-1 and the Citizens’ Request systems, and now they can use RVA Parks as well. Residents now have the ability to provide parks and facilities feedback to the City and report concerns by taking a picture and sending it by email directly from their smart phone.