06/02/2026
Great news from the Friends of Mason Neck State Park
The Friends Purchased Accessible Navigation Equipment for the Park
The Friends have signed a contract with the RightHear company to purchase a platform and equipment that provides talking signage. The system will offer audible wayfinding assistance and information about the park to everyone, and particularly the visually impaired and people who have difficulty communicating in English. The purchase continues the Friends’ commitment to making Mason Neck State Park accessible to everyone.
The equipment includes Bluetooth beacons and Smart Markers placed throughout the park to provide accessible audio information to visitors using the free RightHear phone app. Bluetooth beacons automatically activate audible descriptions when a user approaches them, while Smart Markers can be scanned from a distance to access information. These audio messages provide helpful details such as restroom locations, trail information and surface conditions, and interesting facts about the park. The app can deliver audible information in 35 languages, making the experience more accessible to everyone, and will be especially valuable for the many park visitors who are visually impaired or whose primary language is not English.
The Park staff will develop the material to be included in the system, which will automatically be converted to audible information. Staff expect to complete the first phase of installation in a month or so. We will let you know when it is operational so you can come to the park to try it out! You can learn more about RightHear by clicking the following link: https://www.right-hear.com/
Mason Neck State Park will be the third Virginia state park to add the platform. Natural Bridge State Park’s RightHear platform is operational, and Westmoreland State Park’s platform is in process.
