Cleveland Metroparks

At-a-Glance

Customer:  Cleveland Metroparks 

Industry:   State & Local Government 

Employees:  1,500

Partner:  Logicalis + Cisco 

Challenge:  Cleveland Metroparks struggled with multiple out-of-the-box networking and security tools and outdated communications protocols that kept them from realizing their goals.   

Solutions:  Cisco Network, Wireless, Voice, Security, and Collaboration Systems  

The Customer 

Established in 1917, award-winning Cleveland Metroparks spans more than 25,000 acres, cuts across 49 communities, and is supported by a fully commissioned law enforcement agency. It boasts a 325-mile trail system, 18 reservations, 9 golf courses, 5 nature centers, more than 75 rental facilities, a marina, restaurants, lakefront properties, and the world-famous Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. They are a five-time National Gold Medal Award winner for Excellence in Park & Recreation Management.  

“Metroparks is consistently recognized as and continues to be one of the best park systems in the country. To be part of serving and supporting the best in the country is pretty cool.” 

Matt Previts, Key Account Executive/Logicalis 

Challenges  

CEO Brian Zimmerman oversees Cleveland Metroparks and its strategic direction, and in 2013, he hired Metroparks’ first CIO: Anthony Joy faced siloed networks, limited visibility into the big picture, multiple security point products that created a range of vulnerability gaps, and a traditional telephony system with no way to support mobile devices. After a lengthy bidding process, Logicalis was the selected partner to oversee this overhaul.  

Together, Zimmerman, Joy and Logicalis set out to establish a technology infrastructure that sets Cleveland Metroparks up for current success, efficiency and future growth and optimization. 

Solutions 

Joy initially developed a five-year strategic plan that focused on connectivity, mobility, collaboration, and integration—a plan that’s now in its third generation. 

• Network: Unique designs for unique environments – Logicalis initially upgraded Cleveland Metroparks’ existing core network, but in 2015, they embarked on a comprehensive, site-by-site network assessment, and then designed and implemented Cleveland Metroparks’ first enterprise-grade network from the ground up, replacing their fragmented, off-the-shelf network infrastructure.  

  Because the network assessment showed great variability in how Cleveland Metroparks’ users consumed wireless, Logicalis engineers designed and deployed Cleveland Metroparks’ first wireless network to accommodate its users’ wide-ranging needs—from standard office designs to designs for outdoor gathering spaces, high-traffic areas, and animal care areas. Now, Logicalis can easily upgrade existing access points or deploy new ones with newer wireless technologies. 

  When it came time to upgrade to a second-generation network in 2020, Logicalis provided expert advice at the crucial design stage to improve visibility, performance, reliability, sustainability and endurance. Because of Logicalis’ expertise, Joy was able to get the network he envisioned—without wasting public resources. 

  Results: Today, everything’s connected, giving Cleveland Metroparks complete transparency into and management over their network operations. They now follow network best practices with a 5-year refresh cycle. 

• Communications & Collaboration: From handsets to cloud-sets – Initially, Logicalis designed and built a new voice system on Cisco's Unified Communications voice over IP (VoIP) platform from the ground up. It was wildly successful on deployment.  

  When it came time to refresh the voice system, Zimmerman asked whether desk phones were even needed anymore. Again, Logicalis demonstrated its expertise by showing him how their Cisco VoIP telephony was a critical communication workload that could eventually be moved onto a cloud platform for better survivability, redundancy, availability, and performance. There were also dependencies around 911/E911 emergency systems, as well as Cleveland Metroparks’ own scheduling and call queue systems, that needed to be considered. It became clear that their smartest investment was to mature their earlier Cisco investments, and Logicalis eventually migrated them to the Cisco Cloud Calling platform. 

  Logicalis also upgraded their video endpoints and helped them maximize their systems and overcome issues, such as, deploying to remote users or remote locations.   

  Results: They now have an upgraded and integrated cloud-based collaboration system with Webex Calling (hosted and managed), WebEx Meetings and Microsoft Teams, in addition to Cisco Cloud Calling. It proves that not only can Logicalis evolve the Cisco solution, but can also integrate Cleveland Metroparks’ Cisco and Microsoft solutions to deliver real value—without requiring a whole new system or a completely different direction. 

• Security: An integrated, layered approach – When Cleveland Metroparks was using multiple point products, Logicalis helped them with a phased implementation, as well as a Cisco security enterprise agreement. But because more Cleveland Metroparks team members now work in disparate places, Joy wanted to re-architect their security posture to cover all the bases. Logicalis reviewed Cleveland Metroparks’ entire security posture, including point-of-sale security and network security. They took a layered approach to solution design, and then deployed and integrated Cisco next-generation firewalls: Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), and Cisco Duo—along with a five-year Cisco enterprise agreement (EA)—for easier manageability.   

  Results: Cleveland Metroparks went from managing multiple point products to fully integrated security, giving them greater confidence that they’re protected and compliant. The visibility that Cleveland Metroparks now has far exceeds what they had before. And Cisco ISE, which tracks all internal devices, is a generational leap forward for them.  

The Partnership

Modernization that helps innovation thrive  

“We appreciate the depth and breadth of the expertise offered by Logicalis in support of our mission,” says Zimmerman. Joy adds: “The partnership with Logicalis has been critical to not only modernizing our entire environment over the last 10+ years, but also to keep us ahead of new technologies that enable Cleveland Metroparks to continue to innovate and maintain our status as a world-class park system.” 

In addition, Cleveland Metroparks recently asked about how to work with Cisco for other technology initiatives Not only does Logicalis have a longstanding partnership with Cisco, but they also have a strong presence across Ohio. Coincidentally, another Logicalis account executive was working on similar educational projects with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Logicalis was able to form a three-way partnership with Cisco to start that process.. As AE Matt Previts says: “If you’re willing to not care who receives the credit, it’s amazing what you can do to help your clients!” 

With Logicalis by their side, Zimmerman and Joy have been able to drive innovation in support of their vision for Cleveland Metroparks as a unique gem for the community. And with Cisco by their side, Logicalis has been able to deliver world-class solutions that enable them to lay the foundation for innovation and sustainability that catapults the park system into the future. 

“As Architects of Change™, Logicalis can offer some clarity to clients. In fact, our brainpower is our differentiator.” 

Matt Previts, Key Account Executive/Logicalis