Trails Gathering
When: 
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Where:
St. Vincent Room, Zionsville Town Hall
1100 West Oak St., Zionsville, IN 46077
Registration is now closed!
Trail advocates, managers, and enthusiasts mark your calendars for the upcoming trails gathering on September 29 in Zionsville. You do not want to miss the education, excitement, and opportunities that await you.
Agenda:
9:30AM – Check in
10:00-10:05 AM – Welcome from IPRA and host
10:05 -10:35 AM – Mini Session: Next Level Progress from DNR
Speakers: Amy Marisavljevic & Mark Becker, Indiana DNR Next Level Trails
Learn more about the exciting progress the Next Level Trails program is making all around the State of Indiana! 73 projects have been awarded with 20 projects currently under construction and 10 are complete. This session will highlight some of the critical local connections and regional impacts, including along the B&O and Big 4 Trails corridors, developed by these trail as Indiana becomes one of the most trail-friendly states in the country.
10:35 AM-11:05 AM – Mini Session: Connecting Communities with Next Level Trail Grants
Speaker: Jeff Smallwood, B&O Trails
Jeff will present the history and development of the B&O Trail in west-central Indiana by the non-profit B&O Trail Association Inc. There will be a discussion about the importance of partnerships with governmental entities, community groups, and other trail organizations. Emphasis will be given to the impact of our Next Level Trail grant.
11:05 AM – 11:35AM – Mini Session: Greenways Foundation Updates
Speakers: Mitch Barloga, Greenways Foundation, Angie Pool, Cardinal Greenway, Rep. Carey Hamilton
11:35 AM – 12:05 PM – Mini Session: Trail counters and data
Speaker: Amber Lane, Brownsburg Parks and Recreation
12:05 PM - 12:35 PM – Lunch
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM – Session: Art on the Trail Program
Speakers: Rob Taggart, Greenwood Parks & Recreation Director and Jen Winget, Greenwood Parks & Recreation Assistant Director
Greenwood’s Art on the Trail program is the only outdoor sculpture gallery in all of Johnson County. Started nearly a decade ago, as a partnership between Greenwood Parks & Recreation and the local arts council, the gallery plays host to one permanent and four to six temporary sculptures on a rotating basis. Through a juried panel, artist submissions from across the country are chosen for two-year loans along the multi-use trail. Residents and visitors can enjoy the varied art sculptures from both the trail and nearby vehicular road, creating an additional quality of life component in Greenwood, and enhancing the cultural arts environment in the city.
1:35 PM - 2:05 PM – Mini Session: Trail Programming
Speaker: Mindy Murdock and Molly Shrock, Zionsville Parks & Recreation
By creating fun and engaging trail experiences, we can create lasting connections between our visitors and our outdoor community spaces. This session will introduce some programming examples and how to utilize every type of trail.
2:05 PM -2:35 PM – Session: History of rail trail in Zionsville
Speaker: Roger Burrus
2:35 -3:35 PM – Session: Zionsville Trails: Activation, Collaboration, and Expansion (ACE)
Speaker: Jarod Logsdon, Zionsville Parks & Recreation Superintendent
Jarod Logsdon will provide an update on the current expansion projects for the Big 4 Rail Trail through Zionsville, collaborations with outside organizations, and ways the Zionsville parks team continues to activate their pathways and trails.
3:35 PM – Closing Announcements
3:35-5:00 PM – Guided bike/walk tour with Jarod Logsdon of the Big 4 Rail Trail through Zionsville and Overley-Worman Park
Interested in sponsoring this event? Contact Felisha for sponsorship opportunities.
