LA JOLLA, Calif – November 3, 2000 – ActiveParks.org, a nationwide initiative providing the industry’s first web resource for parks and recreation professionals and the communities they serve, gained the support today of Fortune Global 100 company, Compaq Computer Corporation. Through a strategic technology partnership announced today with Active.com (www.active.com) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) – founders of the ActiveParks.org initiative – Compaq will provide qualifying parks and recreation agencies across the country access to a discounted technology purchasing program that includes Compaq hardware, services, and IT solutions.
To launch the new partnership, Compaq is donating iPAQ Desktop computers to parks and recreation agencies that join the ActiveParks.org initiative and provide their facility information to the initiative’s web database by year end. As many as 15 agencies will receive a free iPAQ Desktop computer early next year when Active.com and NRPA hold a drawing to select the winning recipients.
“Our technology purchasing program combined with the ActiveParks.org initiative enables our nation’s parks to reach the highest levels of operations and service delivery in the Internet age," said Jim Weynand, Vice President, Government and Education Markets, Compaq Computer Corporation. “This innovative solution takes the first step by providing parks and recreation agencies easy access to the latest hardware as well as our full range of services, from hardware support and technology consulting, to eGovernment solutions, all at discounted pricing."
Recent research from the National Association of Counties and direct feedback from parks and recreation agencies has indicated that many parks have not purchased computer equipment in the past because there hasn’t been an easy and convenient way to do it. Using Compaq’s multi-state contract with the Western States Contracting Alliance (WSCA), parks and recreation agencies can qualify to purchase Compaq’s entire line of hardware, services, and IT solutions at discounted pricing. To view products and services with the current WSCA contract pricing, parks and recreation agencies can access www.compaq.com/state/nrpa.
“Many parks and recreation agencies do not have the benefits of state-of-the-art computer equipment or the resources to make fast, knowledge-based purchasing decisions," said Emily Reichman, Vice President, Active.com. “Through our partnership with Compaq, we hope to remove many of these obstacles for agencies of all sizes, making technology easy and accessible for parks and their communities."
For more information about Compaq Computer Corporation’s purchasing program for parks and recreation agencies, visit www.compaq.com/state/nrpa.. Parks and recreation professionals can find additional information about the ActiveParks.org initiative at www.activeparks.org.
About ActiveParks.org
Through the efforts of NRPA and Active.com, the leading online registration company for participatory sports and recreation, the ActiveParks.org initiative is bringing technology benefits to 5,200 local parks and 55 state departments – representing more than 100,000 parks and recreation facilities and an estimated 200 million annual visitors. ActiveParks.org provides an exhaustive database of parks and recreation facilities that will allow parks and recreation professionals to access a comprehensive range of industry information to enhance park facility management. Based on this database, park directors will be able to utilize online registration for classes, events and leagues. For example, the database allows the public to get online at www.active.com and www.activeparks.org. and search and register for facilities and programs at parks across the country. For more information, visitwww.activeparks.org.