Smart Parks and Strategic Tech: How Anthony Joy is digitally transforming Cleveland Metroparks
Anthony Joy, CIO of Cleveland Metroparks
Most people hear “parks” and think of hiking trails and picnic tables. But Anthony Joy, the first-ever Chief Information Officer for Cleveland Metroparks, sees something much more complex: a 25,000-acre network spanning six counties, 18 park reservations, a nationally acclaimed zoo, nine golf courses, marinas, restaurants, retail operations, and a fully commissioned law enforcement agency.
Joy’s job? Make sure all of it runs securely, efficiently, and increasingly, smartly.
With a background that started in law enforcement and evolved into higher education IT leadership roles, Joy brings a rare mix of public-sector insight, academic discipline, and creative energy to one of Ohio’s most innovative civic organizations.
“I don’t think I fully understood the scale of the organization when I applied,” Joy said. “But once I got in and saw everything Cleveland Metroparks oversees, it clicked. This is a city’s worth of operations wrapped in nature.”
A Digital Strategy Rooted in Mobility, Data, and Access
Since joining Cleveland Metroparks, Joy has overhauled the organization’s digital approach by prioritizing mobility, connectivity, and collaboration across business units. His IT roadmap didn’t just focus on hardware upgrades; it redefined how the entire system leverages data.
“Whether it's natural resource tracking, health data, revenue trends, or public safety, we needed a way to pull it all together,” Joy said. “It’s about giving the right people the right information at the right time.”
Joy’s team is also behind the tech powering educational exhibits, immersive visitor experiences, and even drone operations used for planning, marketing, and conservation. The Metroparks’ drone fleet is now used for everything from promotional videos to environmental monitoring to future logistic and planning efforts.
Smart Parks: From Trails to Tech Infrastructure
In 2025, Cleveland Metroparks was awarded a Smart Cities honor for its LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) deployment, a project spearheaded by Joy and his team. The network connects sensors, trail cams, and other IoT devices across expansive natural terrain.
“We’re using IoT to gather actionable data that improves safety, planning, and operations,” said Joy. “It helps us detect trail usage trends, monitor water levels, even predict wildlife movement in some areas.”
It’s all part of what Joy calls “smart park infrastructure”, an approach that combines rugged outdoor environments with the latest in sensor networks, AI analysis, and digital experience.
Partnering Across Public and Private Lines
Modernizing a public agency isn’t just about installing tech, it’s about building trust and collaboration. That’s especially true when working with startups or early-stage tech providers, which Joy sees as critical allies in innovation.
“You have to meet people where they are,” he said. “Startups need to understand how public procurement works. And we, as a public agency, need to be open to creative partnerships.”
His advice for early-stage founders? Be flexible, listen first, and bring solutions, not just ideas. “It’s about creating real value, not just selling a product.”
Guardrails: Cybersecurity Culture with a Twist
One of Joy’s most unique contributions is his approach to cybersecurity, which he branded internally as the “Guardrails” program, a creative and approachable take on managing digital risk across a vast and decentralized organization.
“Security doesn’t work if it feels like punishment,” Joy explained. “We built Guardrails as a cultural mindset. It’s about giving people safe lanes to innovate within boundaries.”
The initiative goes beyond traditional IT policies. It focuses on embedding security into daily operations through education, empowerment, and accountability—not fear. Instead of saying “no” to new ideas or tools, the IT team helps departments explore what’s possible within safe parameters.
Key elements of the Guardrails program include:
Interactive Training & Role-Based Education: From park police to zoo staff to golf course managers, every team member receives tailored cybersecurity training aligned with their specific tech touch points and risk exposure.
Phishing Simulations: Regular phishing simulations that automatically adjust based on user experience help staff practice identifying threats.
Weekly & Monthly Cyber Insights: Reports and short digestible updates that recap recent trends, potential areas of concern, and overall assessment of the cyber hygiene program.
Corrective Education: In the event a user fails any part of the program, the user is placed in a restricted environment with additional learning opportunities, and other corrective measures.
The result is a culture where employees, from field crews to finance, understand their role in keeping systems safe and are active participants in that mission. “It’s about shared responsibility,” said Joy. “The cyber program helps us protect what matters, while still moving fast and staying creative.”
In a sector where security is often seen as a roadblock, Joy’s approach is paving the way for something smarter: a cybersecurity strategy that people actually want to follow.
Blending Structure with Storytelling
A technologist with an MBA, Joy sees creativity as a core leadership skill.
“People don’t connect with dashboards and diagrams, they connect with stories,” he said. “Whether it’s pitching a new idea or designing a public exhibit, we try to tell stories with our technology.”
With Joy at the helm, Cleveland Metroparks has become a model for how public agencies can integrate digital strategy, operational excellence, and community engagement. All without losing sight of their natural mission.