Parks and Recreation Web Site Offers Online Registration, More

The town's Parks and Recreation Department is already seeing a positive response to its revamped online presence.

For a little more than a month now,  the department's new Website, has allowed residents to sign up for programs and pay by credit or debit card without leaving their homes.

"We're hoping it will make it easier to sing up for the programs," said Brian Wilson, director of Parks and Recreation/ Senior Services.

It seems to have helped already. In December some 40 percent of people registering for programs paid with a credit card.

Other municipalities that use the specially designed recreation software see 30 to 70 percent of program participants registering online, Wilson said.

"We're hoping that will translate here," he said.

The software, which costs about $5,000 the first year but less in subsequent years, has other advantages as well.

For example, Wilson said, it allows residents the chance to keep up with program openings, cancellations and changes.

It also allows the department to change the way it offers programs. In the past, they were largely centered around the delivery of newsletters on a seasonal basis. With an increased online presence, it becomes much easier to add programs at any time.

In addition, the site includes general information about the department, its facilities and activities.

"There are a lot of tools on the site that allow us to be in better touch with our constituents," Wilson said.