New Recreation App Improves Visitor Experience
While Helping Protect Public Lands
One-Stop Resource Informed by Local Enthusiasts and Land Management Agencies
Available Now Through the Summer Recreation Season
Wenatchee, Wash. – The Washington Tourism Alliance announces a partnership with TREAD (Trails, Recreation, Education, Advocacy, Development) and Dharma Maps to deploy the new TREAD Map App pilot program that combines a consumer-facing location-based app with robust, real-time trail and recreational data, updates and advisories this spring and summer. The program is operational in the Trails and Lakes region of Central Washington (Kittitas, Grant, Douglas, Chelan, and Okanagan counties), where heavy public lands use is expected again this summer season and is expected to help recreationists improve their outdoor experiences while assisting public lands managers with user flow.
TREAD, a Wenatchee 501c3 nonprofit with a primary goal of connecting all who care and use public lands, sought to enhance connection and improve the outdoor experience by working with Winthrop-based Dharma Maps to create the TREAD Map App as a hyper-local platform where diverse local and visiting recreationists can connect with each other and provide a portal for land managers can monitor, connect and advise. As a program partner and the state’s destination marketing organization, the WTA will encourage uploads and usage of the app through marketing and communications campaigns that reach Washington residents and travelers.
The TREAD Map App offers comprehensive up-to-date recreation maps that include hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails, along with custom layers and up-to-the minute alerts with current safety information. The user interface allows land managers and recreationists to share current conditions, photos, weather information, tips on crowded trail heads with alternate suggestions and more.
“Who better to advise recreationists than other recreationists,” said Mat Lyons, TREAD President. “Users care about the outdoor experience and are natural stewards of the environment. This app invites those who care to share what they love about Washington’s outdoor attractions while helping educated on our inherent responsibilities as recreationists.”
“In addition to informing recreational enthusiasts, we hope this app will assist public land managers with a number of growing issues this summer season,” said Shiloh Burgess, WTA Board of Directors Chair and President of the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce. “From over-use of popular trails to wildfire and smoke alerts, avalanche warnings and other conditions, the TREAD Map App provides a go-to resource for up-to-the-moment updates and advisories.”
“Dharma Maps is thrilled to bring the Tread Map collaborative platform to the Trails and Lakes Region of Washington which empowers recreation users, land managers and user groups to explore and enjoy our natural places and helps us to steward the places we love well into the future,” said Marc Rothmyer, CEO of Dharma Maps.
The TREAD Map App can be downloaded for IOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tread-map/id1497706353 or Android at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.treadmap.
Following completion of this summer’s pilot program, partners will consider broadening TREAD Map App usage across Washington State.
About the Washington Tourism Alliance
The Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) is a 501[c]6 organization established by industry stakeholders with the sole mission of developing and sustaining Washington State destination tourism marketing. The WTA procures and administers funds for state destination tourism marketing activities and creates and implements a strategic statewide destination marketing plan. www.watourismalliance.com
