News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 7, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Anne Hersley, Parks and Recreation Commission, 360-902-8562

Parks Commission teams with Digital Government Academy to launch Internet permits

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today announced that people who wish to moor their boats at state parks with boat access can now use the Internet to pay for a moorage permit. Using the agency's new electronic permit option, customers can purchase a moorage permit with a credit card, and then print it from their personal computers - within minutes, at any time of day, without having to visit a state office.

"Electronic permits are just one of many vital steps we're taking to make Washington state government more flexible and responsive to citizens' concerns," Locke said. "Whether it's work, home or leisure needs, getting business done with your government will keep getting easier."

"This is an important first step toward delivering a complete set of Parks and Recreation services over the Internet," said project manager Art Brown. "In the future, our customers will be able to log on from home, choose from a complete selection of self-service permits, then get out and have fun right away."

Washington has 125 state parks, including 41 marine parks. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of a variety of activities in parks located on ocean beaches, mountains, around Puget Sound, and in forests, deserts and grasslands. The wide range of low- or no-cost facilities and activities includes campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, interpretive centers and environmental learning centers.

The online boat moorage permit is unique because it is the first product of the Washington State Digital Government Applications Academy. Housed in the state's Department of Information Services (DIS), the Academy is a new technology development lab that brings agencies together - in a university-type setting away from business as usual - to accelerate solutions to technology challenges that many government agencies have in common.

The boat moorage permit project was a joint effort by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the DIS Academy and State Treasurer Mike Murphy, who secured a merchant banking contract with Bank of America in March 2000. Having online credit card processing capability will allow government organizations to offer citizens more Internet transactions that require the exchange of money.

"Citizens who go online to get business done with government expect their experience to be as streamlined and easy to use as the best commercial services," said DIS Director Steve Kolodney. "Thanks to the commitment of agencies in the Academy, expert guidance from leading technology companies and groundbreakers like the state treasurer, Washington state's online services will look familiar and function securely each time they are used, encouraging citizens to use them again and again."

Private sector technology companies also worked with the Academy on the reusable application template and infrastructure allowing credit card payment processing through the state's security firewalls. Carta Internet Solutions consulted with the Academy on permit architecture considerations. Microsoft Corporation provided design and programming guidance. Cybersource, an online payment processor for Bank of America, worked with DIS and Parks on best practices for the secure credit card processing platforms.

DIS is the state's technology agency, supporting state and local government agencies, tribes, public utility districts, qualifying non-profits and the education community in the delivery of vital services to the people of Washington. DIS is leading the drive toward digital government in Washington state with a combination of technology services and expertise: e-commerce infrastructure, telecommunications, mainframe computing, web hosting and portal management, master contracts for technology purchases and policy development.

More information about the Department of Information Services and the Washington State Digital Government Academy is available online at www.wa.gov/dis; the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission's web address is http://www.parks.wa.gov.

» Return to this month's News Releases
» View News Release Archive

Access Washington