Edmonds Kind of Play: Your guide to new Parks and Rec registration system

Jen Marx
Jen Marx

Fall registration is now open for Edmonds Parks and Recreation. While you can always call or visit Debbie Johnson, Sr. Office Assistant and Edmonds celebrity at the Frances Anderson Center to register for classes, registering online at www.RecZone.org will be a little different from now on. I found out when my Mom Walk took a detour into FAC to get a drink and say “Hi” to Debbie and hear about the fun birthday parties her grandkids get.

This week we saw a new paper among the pamphlets and parenting magazines near the front desk with “New Registration System” in big purple letters. I have to admit, transitions and change are not my strong suit and since I figured I couldn’t be the only one, I asked Edmonds Parks and Recreation to walk me through the new system so I could pass along all the details. First, Debbie explained the registration, which she has been doing over the phone for others, and then I followed up with Recreation Coordinator Tammy Rankins.

Let’s cover the “why” of this upgrade and then the “how.” The current program, used for www.RecZone.org, which will no longer be supported and therefore needs replacing, required users to call Parks and Rec to get a random log in and password for use in online registration. This new system, ActiveNET, allows you to create your own account online and like Rankins explained, it much more in-line with the online shopping experiences we are accustomed too.

I found this true in my initial interaction with the system, where I was directed to check out the “Wish List” option. Rankins explained that if you wanted to take a class, but the registration wasn’t open yet, you could add the class to your “Wish List” and would be notified when it was available for registration. This is just the kind of “iPhone alarm to pick up my kids” kind of option I can get behind. Another new “upgrade” to the site is the option to “View Facility Availability” for parks, courts, Frances Anderson center rooms, or the Plaza Room for weddings. While you can see if your desired location, date, and time are free, registration still remains over the phone or in-person for these locations.

As is to be expected, there is a learning curve with the new system, and Rankins explained that those at Parks and Rec are experiencing it themselves. The good news is, if you need any help or don’t like part of your experience, help is very available to you by either calling Parks and Rec at 425-771-0230 or emailing reczone@edmondswa.gov. I employed both of those methods this week as my experience was a little “buggy.” Between Tammy, Debbie and one click, I was in a position to schedule a Ranger-Naturalist Camp after hours with a username (my email) and a password I created!

NewRegistrationSystemFlyer2Let’s go through the steps with the additional clarifications I got:

1. First, head to www.RecZone.org. You will be automatically redirected to the new site ActiveNET.

2. Select Create an Account.

3. Complete Name and Address information. This is for the adult who is the main contact, so they can fill in their information. The kids and any other adults can be added when you are through all the initial steps.

4. Complete Contact Information. They ask you to list a home, work, and cell number even if the numbers are all the same. If you would like to receive text message notifications, you will need to select your cell phone provider. While questions like “What text message could a person expect when choosing this option?” haven’t fully been answered, Rankins believes it will mainly be for “notification” purposes for things like cancellations and rained out events.

5. Complete Personal Information keeping Customer Type as General Public. I also asked about the options to say “Yes” to promotional emails or promotional postal mail. Rankins believes you will still get The Craze mailed to you if you opt-out of the promotional postal mail, which will likely only also include notices of things like the registration system changes. As far as the promotional emails, this seems trickier. Since ActiveNET is a national site, if you select “yes” you may find some ads in your inbox. This is easily fixed by logging into your account and unclicking the box next to promotional emails. A few times a year, I get an email regarding class openings or new additions, and Rankins says that if I opt out, I would no longer be receiving those emails, which I look forward to. I am going to give it a go considering the ease in which I can change that decision.

6. Complete Emergency Contact. Per Rankins, “The Emergency Contact will be used in the event the “main contact” is unreachable.”

7. Complete Account Information.

8. Select Create Account if you are are done registering or Add Family Member if you have additional adults or children to add. When adding more household members, follow each step using the primary contact’s e-mail for each child/dependent. Once you have added each family member, select Create an Account.

Once your new account is created, you should expect a welcome email where you will find a link to activate your account. When Debbie filled in my information without adding a password, I did not get the welcome email. If you decide to sign up with Debbie’s help over the phone and find yourself in the same spot, a quick click on “Forgot Your Password” and you will be good as new.

Good luck and may you get into all the classes that work with your schedules.

— By Jennifer Marx

Jen Marx, an Edmonds Mom of two young boys, is always looking for a fun place to take the kids that makes them tired enough to go to bed on time. You can find her on Twitter trying to make sense of begging kids to ” just eat the mac n cheese” @jen_marx.

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