Parkersburg, WV (June 22, 2010) – The Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau has implemented an exciting interactive map system into their website (www.GreaterParkersburg.com).

The Greater Parkersburg CVB partnered early this spring with Cornerstone GIS, a Charleston, South Carolina firm that offers a full spectrum of geographic information systems products and services.

The interactive map system features points of interest in the Greater Parkersburg area grouped into the following categories: Attractions, Accommodations, Cemeteries, Dining, Golf Courses, Parks, Shopping, Trail Systems, Vistas and an automated Self Guided Tour of Downtown Parkersburg and Julia-Ann Square Historic District.

“The site includes partner information, links to business websites, driving directions, street view location, e-mail, images, and a brief description of each point of interest,” Greater Parkersburg CVB President Steve Nicely said.

The interactive map system also highlights approximately 400 miles of outdoor recreational trails in and around the Greater Parkersburg area. The trail systems category allows outdoor enthusiasts to plan their trail routes and view information such as distance, use (hiking, biking, horseback riding, etc.) surface and terrain. Trail data was collected for North Bend State Park, the North Bend Rail Trail, McDonough Wildlife Refuge, Wayne National Forest (GPS data was provided, not collected by Cornerstone GIS), and Mountwood Park.

“The trails were collected by Cornerstone GIS using high accuracy GPS equipment, which ensures dependable information for visitors’ wishing to explore local trail systems. The parks will be able to use this information to provide guests with dependable maps of their trail systems,” Cornerstone GIS Owner & Project Manager Candice Chastain said.

Another added feature to the new mapping system is a one-of-a kind, online audio tour of the downtown Julia-Ann Square Historic District.

“This tour maps out the historic homes and buildings along the tour, and it also features an automated tour for viewers to not only see images of the points along the tour, but to also hear the history of the building while exploring the interactive map,” Nicely said.

A printable map of the tour is also available for download.

The Greater Parkersburg CVB also highlighted the most historic cemeteries in the area to provide a resource for genealogy research and historical knowledge. The goal is to provide users with a physical location and multiple images of each of the cemeteries so that visitors will know where to go during their visit the area.

Chastain says that, “The Greater Parkersburg CVB should be commended for their innovative thinking on designing the scope of this project. The trail systems and points of interest in this historic area are fabulous tourism resources that will now be marketed using today’s technologies. The interactive map allows millions of visitors of the internet to see, explore, and research prior to their visit. “

“The online tour of the historic downtown is unparallel in the country,” Chastain continued. ”It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Greater Parkersburg CVB on this project as they truly understand the importance of accurate information and advanced technology to suite the demands of today’s traveler. This site certainly provides both.”

Nicely noted that Mountwood Park was the last park to have data collected for mapping, therefore the parks trails will be added in July 2010.

The site may be viewed by visiting http://www.greaterparkersburg.com/interactivemap/interactivemap.php.

For more information about Greater Parkersburg attractions, events and points of interest, visit www.greaterparkersburg.com.

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