Margate to institute a new online registration system for community education and recreation programs after the new year.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE The Community Education and Recreation Department is moving into the new year with a new way for parents and grandparents to register their children and themselves for the myriad of programs offered throughout the year.
This is our first time going online, Recreation Leader Jesse Weiner said.
The department has started promoting the online registration system on social media, but they are still working out a few details.
The first opportunity to use the registration system after the new year begins will be for the Kindergarten Basketball program starting on Jan. 7.
The registration system, which is part of the city's financial management system, called Edmunds GovTech, will make it easier to register and pay online using a credit or debit card, Weiner said.
Edmunds is finalizing the payment process, and the city expects it will be up and running by next week. If that cannot be accomplished, the system may be delayed until the next program, which will be the Winter Wonderland Cooking Class scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 17.
MargateCER/Kids' cooking class in the Margate schools
Weiner said the city knows other towns in the area are using online registration for recreation programs and decided to follow suit. Nearby Ventnor uses a program called RecDesk.
Moving to an online registration system will make it easier for us to take registrations and accepting payments. Instead of sending a check in the mail to cover the fee, they can pay online using a credit card, Weiner said.
The system will also make it easier to give refunds if a registration is cancelled for good cause. All the person has to do is call the department to request it and a refund will be issued to the credit card.
To use the system, the applicant will fill out an initial profile before registering for a class, sports camp or pickleball.
During the fall, winter and spring seasons, recreation programs are mostly attended by year-round residents and students attending the public schools where many of the programs are offered. Registrations during the summer month when thousands of part-time residents flock to the city is a bit more challenging. Officials hope the system will streamline the operation.
The recreation department offers programs throughout the year, including bus trips, summer camps, pickleball and adult education programs.
To start a membership profile, see https://parksrec.egov.basgov.com/margatecity
Learn more about the programs offered at https://www.margate-nj.com/recreation or on Facebook.
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