To streamline user experience and enhance accessibility, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has rolled out a fresh website redesign, informed by years of customer feedback. According to a recent announcement from the agency, the new and improved portal is not just about visual appeal, it's a significant step towards making information more readily available and navigable. The website now operates on a proven CMS platform, aiming to serve Colorado's natural aficionados in a much more efficient manner.
Rebecca Ferrell, the Branding and Communications Section Manager at CPW, spoke to the complexity of the redesign. "Reimagining a website as robust as ours is no easy task, and while we know changes are always a challenge, we think you’ll find this website more dynamic, functional, and easier for you, our customers and partners, to use," said Ferrell, as per Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The outcome is a platform that not only meets but is designed to exceed state and federal accessibility standards.
All designed components aim to play well with screen readers, thereby assisting visually impaired individuals. Moreover, the content on the site is now available in multiple languages, a nod towards creating a more inclusive digital Colorado for All. A thorough content audit has been conducted by the CPW team, which entailed eliminating redundant pages, updating existing content, and leveraging analytics to fine-tune the user journey through the site.
The revamped navigation menu is constructed to whisk users to their areas of interest post-haste. Park descriptions and images on graphic cards immediately give visitors a quick glimpse into each state park's unique features and activities. Additionally, users can look forward to new mapping and event tools intended to lead to an enriched user experience. And sure, there might be a short hiccup for bookmark aficionados and Google searchers, as freshly saved bookmarks may not redirect immediately, and search results may take some time to catch up to the changes.
These improvements owe a debt of gratitude to Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), as their grant program funded the redesign. GOCO, fueled by the Colorado Lottery proceeds, invests in outdoor organizations for conservation and recreational projects. "We’re grateful for the support from GOCO to help us highlight the beauty of our state and its resources, and CPW staff's efforts to keep Colorado the place we all love to work, play, and enjoy," said Ferrell as detailed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
