Modernizing Tradition: Maine Township’s Garage Sale Goes Digital—Cutting Wait Times by 90% and Empowering Community Growth

For over 20 years, the Maine Township Community Garage Sale has been more than a marketplace. Revenue from vendor space sales and event sponsorships supports the Township’s summer camp for at-risk youth, helping children from low-income families experience a summer of connection, growth, and belonging.

Serving one of Illinois’ largest unincorporated areas, Maine Township’s annual garage sale isn’t just a fundraiser; it’s a local tradition that strengthens social ties and uplifts families who rely on the Township’s programs. But as the event grew in popularity, its registration process struggled to keep up with community demand.

The Challenge: Long Lines, Limited Access, and Manual Paperwork Pains

Before 2024, vendor registration for the garage sale was entirely manual.

• Vendors had to visit the Town Hall in person to sign up.
• Payments were accepted only by cash or check.
• Lines of over 25 people formed outside the door hours before opening day.
• Administrative staff—often just one or two people—were overwhelmed with paperwork.

The manual registration process created significant accessibility challenges. Non-residents, individuals working daytime hours, and those without reliable transportation often struggled to participate. The in-person, cash-only registration made it difficult for some residents, especially those with limited transportation or daytime work schedules, to participate. Tracking space availability was also time-consuming. Staff relied on a paper map, which didn’t update in real time, leading to occasional confusion and double bookings.

The Township had already begun digitizing services like youth programs and senior activities using online systems. But the garage sale—one of its largest community events—remained the last holdout for modernization.

The Solution: A Modern Marketplace Powered by CivicPlus® Recreation Management

In 2024, Maine Township brought the event into the digital age with the CivicPlus Recreation Management solution. After a year of successfully using it for youth programs, staff expanded it to the garage sale. Initial setup required a one-time configuration of maps and vendor spaces, but subsequent years took just a fraction of the time thanks to the software’s ability to duplicate and adjust layouts.

Here’s how they transformed the experience:

Online Registration and Payments: Vendors can now register and pay online from anywhere, using a debit card, credit card, or e-check.

Interactive Map: A color-coded layout displays green (available) and red (sold) spaces, with photo previews of each location.

Real-Time Availability: The system updates automatically—eliminating overbooking and saving staff hours of manual coordination.

Centralized Tracking: Not only are digital registrations tracked, but in-person registrations are entered into the same system for one seamless record of all transactions.

Equipment Rentals: Vendors can easily reserve tables and view available inventory through the equipment rental feature.

The change wasn’t just operational; it was cultural. It aligned with the Township’s commitment to making services more efficient, accessible, and available online, meeting residents where they are.

Results: 90% faster check-ins, 100% happier staff

The results were immediate and measurable:

• Wait Times Cut by 90%, Online Adoption at 75%: On the first day of registration this year, only two people showed up in person compared to more than 25 in previous years, with 75% of vendors now registering online entirely.
• Efficiency Gains: 25-40 Hours Reclaimed and Zero Overbookings: By eliminating most in-person meetings and manual paperwork, staff saved an estimated 25–40 hours and fully eliminated human error in space assignments. Administrative work shifted from managing paper forms to serving residents and enhancing youth programs.
• Faster Payments and Happier Vendors: Vendors praised the new ability to pick spaces visually and register from home, while staff reduced payment reconciliation from several days of cash and check handling to just a couple of hours using CivicPlus revenue reports.
• Improved Communication and Engagement: During an unexpected thunderstorm prior to morning setup, staff used built-in notification tools to text and email garage sale vendors in real time—prompting nearly two dozen replies of appreciation and proving how digital communication strengthens community connection.

The convenience of the new system amplified the event’s community impact. Staff gained valuable time to focus on expanding youth programs, enhancing mental health services, and launching new community initiatives—all without increasing headcounts.

From Parking Lot Chaos to Digital Community Connection

What began as a logistical enhancement became a model of inclusion and modernization. The Township’s digital shift with Recreation Management not only simplified registration but also embodied their mission: making community engagement easier, more accessible, and more meaningful.

Now, Maine Township plans to extend its use of Recreation Management to room reservations and facility calendars—syncing directly with Outlook to replace manual spreadsheets.

The best-run local governments don’t just modernize their processes—they strengthen their purpose. Maine Township proved that when technology and community meet, impact follows.