How Park Districts in Chicago Can Responsibly Embrace AI — Insights from IPRA’s “How to (Actually) Use AI for Recreation”

Artificial intelligence is becoming a central topic across recreation agencies, and AI for park districts in Chicago is emerging as both an operational opportunity and a governance priority. Moreover, many districts are now exploring how AI can support communication, operations, registration workflows, and resident engagement. During the recent webinar “How to (Actually) Use AI for Recreation,” hosted by the Illinois Park & Recreation Association (IPRA) and Rec Technologies, leaders from across the region discussed how AI is being evaluated to improve marketing, customer service, and administrative efficiency.

At GO Technology Group, we attended to better understand how AI is shaping the future of recreation. In addition, we wanted to highlight how strong governance, security, and IT infrastructure create the foundation for responsible innovation.

Rec Technologies outlined three stages that describe how most organizations begin integrating AI:

As districts move from experimentation to integration, the need for security, data protection, and identity governance increases significantly. Therefore, leadership teams should review cybersecurity readiness, cloud configuration, and endpoint protection early in the process—areas where professional IT consulting plays a critical role.

AI adoption is already expanding across Illinois park districts. Instead of focusing on individual tools, it is more useful to understand the categories of technologies being explored and the safeguards required for each.

Districts increasingly rely on ChatGPT, Canva AI, and video/voice tools to accelerate marketing and internal communication. However, safe use requires:

• District-issued accounts secured through Microsoft Entra ID consulting.
• Content accuracy checks to avoid misinformation.
• Strong data retention, compliance, and classification controls managed through Microsoft Purview consulting.

Chatbots, automated FAQ systems, and voice assistants help residents quickly find program details. Yet, these integrations must include:

• Secure APIs and restricted access.
• Role-based permissions tied to Microsoft 365 consulting best practices.
• Continuous monitoring supported by Microsoft Defender.

AI tools for foot-traffic insights, climate modeling, or sentiment analysis rely on protected cloud environments. As a result, safe use requires:

• Cloud governance and storage controls within Microsoft 365 and Azure.
• Device and application compliance managed through Microsoft Intune.
• Vendor risk assessments to support FOIA compliance and public transparency.

Across all categories, the rapid growth of AI tools underscores a key point: park districts need structured governance, secure infrastructure, and clear oversight before scaling these solutions districtwide.

As districts expand their use of AI, many find they need support reviewing vendor risks and securing identity access. It is also important to ensure Microsoft 365 environments are configured properly as AI tools become more integrated.

GO Technology Group helps park districts strengthen these areas through cybersecurity consulting and structured guidance around responsible AI adoption. Our team focuses on governance, compliance, and long-term operational stability rather than tool promotion.

Districts looking for practical examples of technology planning may find value in our published park district case study, which highlights how improved IT governance enhances resident services.

One of the strongest messages from the IPRA session was the urgent need for AI policy and governance. For example, Naperville Park District has already introduced guidelines that require using district-issued accounts, verifying accuracy, and avoiding non-public data.

AI adoption becomes far safer and more sustainable when supported by reliable infrastructure. For this reason, districts benefit from:

GO Technology Group delivers managed IT services, security hardening, and cloud configuration support to help districts innovate confidently — supported by dedicated managed IT services for park districts designed for public-sector environments.

This balanced approach empowers park districts to innovate while maintaining responsible oversight.

For leaders considering their first AI initiative, the following steps offer a balanced starting point.  

1. Start with a small pilot.
2. Use only district-issued accounts.
3. Assign an internal AI champion.
4. Review cybersecurity and compliance readiness.
5. Create an internal AI use policy.

These early steps help districts establish control, encourage safe experimentation, and reduce risk.

During the IPRA IT Networking Committee meetings, leaders frequently express concerns about AI adoption outpacing policy development. While communication teams and program staff quickly test new tools, IT teams must manage the resulting risks. Consequently, many feel pressure to balance innovation with compliance, especially when staffing is lean.

GO Technology Group assists by:

• Implementing secure identity frameworks.
• Establishing acceptable-use policies.
• Providing cybersecurity awareness training.
• Evaluating AI vendor risks and offering AI consulting to support safe testing of new tools
• Helping districts create safe testing environments.

This balanced approach empowers park districts to innovate while maintaining responsible oversight.

Rec Technologies and IPRA continue to foster valuable dialogue around responsible technology. Their insights, shared here solely for educational purposes, reflect a growing movement toward transparency and innovation.

As a local Chicago MSP, GO Technology Group partners with districts to support secure, responsible AI adoption built on strong governance, modern infrastructure, and community trust.

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Learn how we help park districts adopt AI securely — from infrastructure to policy design.

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