WEBSITE REDESIGN - WWW.GEPARK.ORG

The Glen Ellyn Park District's website was outdated, difficult to navigate, and not responsive. With over 143,000 visits per year, over 60% from mobile or tablet devices, the website was, quite frankly, not doing its job. The average bounce rate was almost 70%.

In 2016, funds were allocated to redesign and re-launch the website. The goal was to convert the website from Dreamweaver to Wordpress, allowing for easier updates, mobile compatibility, and more unique/customized features. The new website was designed with Glen Ellyn’s residents in mind, focusing on creating a user-friendly, fun and intuitive experience.

MY ROLE
PROJECT MANAGER
DESIGN DIRECTION
COPYWRITER
WEBSITE MAINTENANCE

COMPANY
INVEX DESIGN, CHICAGO

PROJECT GOALS

  • Easy to navigate and update

  • Design consistency and visual appeal

  • Mobile friendly/responsive

  • Expand program information and resources

  • Eliminate athletics and youth soccer websites*

  • Incorporate an interactive map & event calendar

  • Utilize plugins to improve user experience

  • Create a template to use for future web projects

  • Increase the overall use of photos

  • Improve visibility of volunteer opportunities

  • Reduce website bounce rate

BEFORE

THE PROCESS

An RFP was submitted to several design companies familiar with the needs of a park district website - a unique combination of transparency and marketing. Invex Design of Chicago was awarded the contract. Tools, including Google Analytics and heat maps, were used to develop a site map and interface that would best serve the residents of Glen Ellyn. The project was primarily managed through a shared Google Drive, which allowed for ease of communication and sharing of content, imagery, and document resources. Post-launch, the site is continuously evaluated to stay on top of current trends and best practices. Most recently, the mobile navigation was revamped to further improve navigation.

THE FINAL PRODUCT

THE RESULTS

Since its launch, one of the most exciting changes has been an almost 20% decrease in bounce rate. This is a strong indication that patrons are finding valuable information on the website. In 2017, Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center’s website, www.AckermanSFC.com, was revamped utilizing the Glen Ellyn Park District site as a template. This allowed for brand consistency when navigating between the two sites, as well as, expanded functionality on the Ackerman SFC site for half the cost of a unique rebuild. 

*A new athletics website will be launched in 2020. Over the years, several of the District’s sports leagues have created their own websites. This new site will bring them all under one umbrella while also incorporating a robust CRM platform.