Science and Technology

WiFi service being added to Mo. state park campgrounds

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,

Marshall Griffin

Published June 7, 2012 at 6:10 PM CDT

People who go camping atstate parks in Missourican now add laptops and iPads to their lists of camping gear and supplies.

Prior to this year, only Bennett Spring State Parkhad WiFi service, which was used mainly for live trout cameras during trout season. Renee Bungart with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says WiFi service has now been expanded to eleven state park campgrounds.

“Coverage really depends on the state park that they’re going to visit," Bungart said. "Some of our larger, more popular parks have full coverage across the campgrounds, and some of our other parks just have some hot spots, such as the visitor’s center.”

Bungart says they plan to expand WiFi services to more campgrounds over the summer.

“We do anticipate having about 37 of our campgrounds that will provide the wireless WiFi by the end of the year," Bungart said. "(The) majority of those hopefully will be implemented by the end of this summer.”

There are 40 state parks in Missouri that have campgrounds. Bungart says, though, three of the 40 are considered too small or remote and will not get the service.

WiFi service is being offered free of charge.

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Marshall Griffin

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.

See stories by Marshall Griffin

Marshall Griffin

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.