Website Redesign

Washington State Parks (WA Parks) Website Redesign Project

Project Goal: Completely revamp the Washington State Parks website (parks.wa.gov) to create a customer-friendly, accessible, and inclusive experience for all visitors.

Problem: WA Parks existing website suffered from fragmented information, poor navigation, and a lack of mobile responsiveness. Important alerts were buried deep within the content, and the site was inaccessible to people with disabilities and non-English speakers. This hindered the website's ability to serve as a valuable public resource and discouraged park visitation.

Solution: A collaborative effort with Washington State Parks resulted in a comprehensive website redesign roadmap. User research, with input from current and potential park visitors, informed key improvements:

Content Transformation: Information architecture was restructured, a new classification system implemented, and clear content style guides established.
Enhanced User Experience: A consistent visual design, accessible interactions, and optimized user flows were created.
Accessibility Focus: Iterative testing ensured usability for all visitors, including those with disabilities.
Streamlined Content Management: The development team aligned the website management system with the updated content and design. Staff received training for efficient content creation and website management.

Impact: The new parks.wa.gov website offers:
Effortless park searches based on location, features, and amenities.
Accessibility features like screen readers and keyboard navigation.
Comprehensive park information for a safe and informed visit.
Seamless reservation system integration.
User feedback opportunities for continuous improvement.
This human-centered approach ensures the website caters to diverse needs and empowers everyone to explore and enjoy Washington's beautiful parks.