For those wishing to hike, bike or camp at an Indiana state park, you may want to plan ahead and print a copy of the map of the area where you’ll be going or even download it to your phone.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources public information officer Marty Benson, they just received the last supply of printed maps … forever.
Benson said in an email that after they run through the current supply of maps, they will transition to a paperless mapping system. They anticipate this supply to last through this year’s recreation season, which typically runs from early spring to late fall.
The Indiana State Parks system manages 24 state parks, seven small satellite locations, eight reservoir properties, two state forest recreation areas and two off-roading areas. Over the last several fiscal years, Benson said that the DNR has spent more than $110,000 annually to print maps for these locations.
The move to phase out paper maps will cut the cost of printing, allowing the agency to better support operations of state parks and best manage both their financial and natural resources.
“DNR is continuously working to best steward our financial resources, in addition to our natural resources,” the email read. “Transitioning to paperless maps is part of this continued effort.”
Digitals maps have long been provided to guests online and that will continue to be the case moving forward.
However, many Indiana state parks provide little to no internet access within the parks. Relying on smartphones can be tricky under these circumstances, so it is recommended to have a mobile hotspot or download the maps prior.
The digital maps can be accessed at in.gov/dnr/state-parks/maps/ or on the DNR mobile app. For those who prefer paper maps during their outdoor adventures, Benson suggests printing the maps provided online before visiting.
Contact Deshna Venkatachalam at DVenkatachalam@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana DNR gets ready to say goodbye to paper maps at state parks
Reporting by Deshna Venkatachalam, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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