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Parks board extends, increases website-support contract; staff cites surge in visits and online services
Summary
The board approved Amendment No. 2 to the website-support contract with Forum 1 Communications Corporation, increasing the total not-to-exceed amount to $604,597.04 and extending the term through Dec. 31, 2028. Staff reported increased visits and new online services since the site launched in 2024.
The Indianapolis Board of Parks and Recreation on Sept. 23 approved Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 19076 with Forum 1 Communications Corporation for website support, increasing the contract by $239,819.54 to a total not to exceed $604,597.04 and extending the term through Dec. 31, 2028.
Alex Courtright, chief communications officer for Indy Parks, told the board the redesigned website launched in 2024 and that the department has seen roughly 418,000 visits and about 718,000 page views since launch (about 18 months). He said the site now supports Spanish translation, online forms and applications, and an interactive map of the park system’s 218 parks and family centers.
Courtright said the website eased access to summer jobs and programming: the department saw about 39,000 visits to summer-job pages in the past 18 months, and staff were able to move half of summer-camp scholarship applications online in the first year the feature was available. He told the board that online applications for scholarships tripled this year compared with the previous year, which staff attributed to removing barriers to applying.
Board members praised the communications team’s work during and after the pandemic to improve digital access to parks information. The contract increase funds continued website maintenance, content updates, and additional development work to support forms, maps and accessibility features.
The board approved the amendment by voice vote.
