The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced this week it will be expanding its state park reservation to include a web-based reservation system for the first time. Visitors will also be able to charge reservations to their credit cards.

DCNR awarded a 5-year contract to Spherix Inc. to operate its central parks reservation system and build and host the state's web-based reservation system. A 21 percent annual operating cost savings is expected.

Internet reservations are expected to be available in the first half of 2006.

Spherix will operate the Pennsylvania call center at its facility in Cumberland, Md., where it currently employees 26 Pennsylvania residents, and expects to be able to recruit additional Pennsylvanians as reservation agents in part through the state's CareerLink program.

The toll-free number for making reservations will remain 1-888-PA-PARKS.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s State Parks, visit them online.

7/15/2005