John McGovern has more than thirty years of experience in parks and recreation. He earned his law degree from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law while working in parks and recreation. John consults on access and inclusion for federal agencies, states, counties, park, forest preserve, and conservation districts, municipalities, and other local governments, businesses and nonprofits.
He is interested in applying access concepts to real-life situations and published a handbook for ADA compliance for Illinois park districts in 1991. He wrote a similar handbook for municipal parks and recreation agencies for the National Recreation and Park Association in 1992. Both are still in use today. His goal is to help every agency make parks, facilities, and programs open and accessible for people of all abilities.
University of New Mexico
Bachelor of Arts – Recreation Administration
Master of Arts – Recreation Administration
Loyola University of Chicago
School of Law – Juris Doctorate
Illinois Park & Recreation Association member since 1979
American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration – Board Member
Illinois Park & Recreation Association Professional Recognition Award winner, 2000
Illinois Park & Recreation Association Robert M. Artz Award
National Recreation and Park Association Distinguished Professional Award, 2009
Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) – 6200245
Former Executive Director – Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, Northbrook, IL
Former Executive Director – West Suburban Special Recreation Association, Franklin Park, IL
He writes and speaks about the ADA and recreation frequently, and consults with organizations across the country. McGovern represented NRPA on every federal advisory committee regarding recreation and the ADA. He served as a representative of NRPA on each of the three US Access Board federal advisory committees regarding recreation, and chaired the first committee.
Typical clients include state parks and recreation associations, state departments of conservation or natural resources, county parks and recreation departments, municipal recreation departments, special purpose park districts, conservation districts, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. RAC also advises design professionals, manufacturers of accessible products, and other service providers regarding titles II and III of the ADA.
