Residents in Hurricane City, UT Enjoy Convenience of Online Registrations with CivicPlus®

Hurricane City, Utah, has a rich history and a reputation for being the type of community where people want to raise a family. Don’t call it “Her-i-cane,” though, because the locals know it correctly as “ Hur-ah-kun,” a pronunciation that pays homage to its early settlers and local heritage. Further reveling in the unexpected, Hurricane, located in the southwest corner of Utah and fully landlocked, is not a city at risk of coastal Atlantic hurricane rains and floods. Instead, it earned its name in 1896 when a fierce wind blew the top off a buggy, leaving the driver to exclaim, “Well, that was a Hurricane. We’ll name this ‘Hurricane Hill.’” Thus, a unique community was born that still stands today.

Today, Hurricane, Utah is enjoying a growing population of residents and families who love the City’s proximity to National Parks and Monuments, including the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and its local recreation and leisure offerings. From dance to youth sports, to adult leagues, to the continually growing popularity of Pickleball, life in Hurricane City means a life where families can stay active, get outside, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Thanks to Hurricane City’s Recreation and Leisure Department’s migration from a paper-based recreation registration system to the use of the modern, cloud-based Recreation Management solution from CivicPlus^®, getting involved in all Hurricane City has to offer has never been easier for its active community members.

Online Convenience for Busy Parents

Nicole Peterson, a mother of five and resident of Hurricane, remembers the inconvenience of having to travel to the recreation and leisure office to register her children for activities before the City implemented the CivicPlus Recreation Management solution.

“My kids have participated in basically every sport available,” said Peterson, “Flag football, soccer, track, basketball, and my three-year-old girl just started gymnastics. Dance will be next.”

For Peterson, the ability to register her children for upcoming athletic classes and sports leagues from the comfort of her home makes it easier to stay engaged and enables her children to participate in local recreation activities.

“I tell all my kids they can pick one sport per season,” said Peterson. “They don’t all have to agree on the same thing, so I’m constantly signing them up for something. I appreciate the convenience of the City’s online registration system. Now I can register my kids at any time—like at ten o’clock at night when I’m thinking about it. I can hurry online, register, and pay. Plus, the system is very user-friendly. I’ve never had a problem signing on and getting my kids signed up.”

Easy Access for Instructors and Coaches

Hurricane resident Wil DuCrest appreciates the convenience the CivicPlus Recreation Management solution offers him as an athletic league participant, a parent, a coach, and an umpire.

“I have four kids,” said DuCrest. “They have all participated in the City’s sports programs, and I’ve participated in adult programs as well, including softball and kickball. I also regularly help coach and umpire different sports, including basketball, flag football, and soccer.”

Like Peterson, DuCrest remembers the previous paper-based system and prefers the convenience and ease of use of the CivicPlus Recreation Management online registration system, especially its league registration and instructor management functionality.

“The online tools seem to have made everything easier from an organizational standpoint,” said DuCrest.

When it comes to registering himself or his kids for upcoming sports leagues and events, DuCrest says the online registration process could not be easier.

“Signing up for a sport is super easy. You click on the name of the sport, confirm that your child is eligible, and then click sign up,” said DuCrest, “And I definitely appreciate being able to pay online.”

As a coach and am umpire, DuCrest enjoys further conveniences, including easy access to his player rosters and schedules.

“Once the Recreation and Leisure Department introduced the new online functionality to us during a coach’s meeting, I was on board right away,” said DuCrest. “I like that I can log in to see my teams and can contact team members directly via the online portal.”

Like Peterson, DuCrest has experienced how the convenience of the online functionality makes it easier for parents and coaches to get involved in community recreation offerings.

“The City’s online registration offering has made a huge difference,” said DuCrest. “It makes everything easier. It has helped to improve the program as a whole. Participation is up, which means revenue is up, which means the city can invest in better, nicer facilities and fields. In the end, it has been good for everyone.”