Those High Tech Park and Rec Guys...

I don't usually think of the people affiliated with local, state and national parks as the most high tech people. I don't mean that in a bad way -- I just don't! I mean, they spend all their time doing fun things outdoors. It's hard to imagine them locked in an office in front of a computer all day.

But these folks continue to surprise me with their adoption of technology to imporove the park experience. Take the example of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and its LocateAPark site which "mashes up" information about their member parks with Google Maps.

And the coolest thing about it is that they just used their database information and two free online geocoding and mapping services, Geocoder and GoogleMaps. Sure, it took some time, but the basic tools are available to everyone with a computer and an Internet connection.

Of course, the mapping service is only as good as the data that goes into it -- Google Maps will map whatever address you give it, even if it's wrong. Nevertheless, these tools have tremendous potential for any association or organization that wants to build a geographic representation of their members, products or services.

For more information about this cool site, check out the Associations Now article highlighting the IPRA's work