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Advisory board urges simpler citywide registration, flags RecDesk usability problems
Summary
Members and staff criticized the current registration workflow as confusing and inconsistent across rec centers and urged a single, user-friendly citywide registration or a new vendor; staff described existing API connections but acknowledged front-end problems.
Members of the Recreation Advisory Board spent substantial time on May 13 addressing problems with the department's online registration and public communications. Several board members said families are confused by inconsistent program listings and by the need to bring documents in person even when registration appears online.
Jenna, a committee member, urged a simpler, single-entry registration flow for citywide programs such as basketball and soccer so families can "click and sign up" without scrolling through many site-specific listings. The director explained the current software feeds program listings to the city website via an API, but that entry inconsistencies stem from how rec centers input program details. The director told the board that filters exist on the website but agreed the front-end experience could be more user friendly.
Board members suggested building a centralized registration page for major, citywide programs and allowing registrants to list a preferred recreation center as a backend routing step. Several members said that if the current vendor cannot produce a straightforward registration flow, the city should explore alternatives.
Staff promised to examine ways to standardize program input, enhance communications and to report back with options before the next round of registrations. No formal procurement decision was made at the meeting; members framed this as a near-term implementation and communications issue to be settled by administration and IT staff.
Next steps: staff will evaluate the current vendor's capabilities, consider centralized registration options and return with recommendations to improve user experience and outreach.
