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A view of Shenandoah River State Park, one of Virginia's state parks.
During the Great Depression, Virginia became the first state in the nation to launch its own park system in 1936.
It has grown from six to 35 parks, and state parks director Joe Elton says the equivalent of Virginia's population visits them annually.
In 2010, there were 8.1 million visits, 1 million overnight visits, and roughly $189 million of economic impact," Elton says.
Elton added that hiking, camping, and nature observation are the most popular activities, along with more than 13,000 interpretive programs.
A new "75 Days of Summer" promotion will mark the anniversary, with free parking in mid-June, birthday cake at all parks June 18, and a new game from the Virginia lottery.
It will also include daily Web and social media-based contests, a photography competition, and other special events.
NPR
Book News: Judge's Comments Bruising To Apple's Price-Fixing Case
Also: Mary Karr on addiction and David Foster Wallace; Maria Semple calls Jonathan Franzen her "big daddy."NPR
Guava Paste And Tamarind? What To Do With Weird Food Gifts
Have a food that has you stumped? Submit a photo and we'll ask chefs about our favorites.NPR
Political Attacks Ramp Up In U.S. Senate Race In Mass.
In Massachusetts, what's been a relatively lackluster campaign to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry is heating up. Veteran Democratic Rep. Ed Markey is running against Republican Gabriel Gomez, a businessman and former Navy SEAL. Gomez is a political newcomer.NPR
Viewers To Decide If Amazon's Sample Shows Make The Cut
Amazon is piloting 14 possible shows for its streaming video service. The audience will vote on which shows it likes best. TV critic Eric Deggans says the process and the shows would like to be breaking ground for a new media — but they aren't.Leave a Comment
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