The Parks & Recreation Department in University Place is the first department in the city to launch a Facebook page! Recreation staff anticipate that embracing this social media tool will ensure quicker, more direct communication with online customers about activities, programs, projects and events within the city in a place where many of them visit each and every day.
“As Facebook has continued to grow, more and more we hear about the successes of other Recreation departments in using this tool to connect with their participants, whether they’re interested in sports, cultural arts or health and fitness programs,” observes Todd Smith, University Place’s Recreation Manager, “and we’ve been eager to get started. Having the ability to reach all of our customers with a single message with just a click provides a great advantage – both for class info as well as at times when we’re in need of coaches or if a baseball field is unusable and specific teams will be rescheduled.”
The Facebook page will be used for informational purposes only and will not have Wall Posts turned on. The community will have the opportunity to “Like” the page and in turn will be alerted with updates from the department. Individuals who do “Like” the page will receive updates about upcoming programs, registration deadlines, trips & tours, as well as cancellations and rainout information.
With the loss of the Parks & Recreation Program Guide due to budget cuts, Facebook is just one more way that staff are choosing to get creative with marketing and advertising for their programs. The Guide has now “gone green” and is available online only. Recreation staff believe that the community has become accustomed to the online Program Guide and think the new Facebook page will increase the accomplishments attained so far.
Citizens who are Facebook members can find the new page by searching for: University Place Parks & Recreation. Once there be sure to click “Like” at the top of the page!
More information about the City of University Place is available at www.CityofUP.com.