When GPTC brought its first People We Meet on the Bus pop-up experience to the Lake Effekt Street Art Festival in Miller Beach, the goal was simple, create space for community members to share their stories and engage in conversations about transportation, mobility, and connectivity in Northwest Indiana.

National Trails Day 2026 was more than a celebration of trails, active transportation, and the outdoors. It was a remarkable day of milestones, partnerships, and community impact across Northwest Indiana.

On May 5-6, leaders, advocates, planners, public officials, and community partners gathered at the Omni Severin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis for two days of bold conversations, mobile workshops, networking, and visionary thinking focused on creating safer, healthier, more walkable, and more bikeable communities across Indiana.

On April 25, 2026, coinciding with the nationwide celebration of Celebrate Trails Day, Nexus Strategy & Implementation had the distinct honor of serving as a guest panelist at the 15th Annual One Earth Film Festival, hosted by Calumet College of St. Joseph. Notably, this campus stands as the only festival site outside of Illinois, underscoring the growing regional and national reach of this influential environmental event.

Both the APA IN conference and the Hoosier Planning Awards were held this year at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Being present not only as award recipients but also as exhibitors was a wonderful opportunity to engage with the planning community and amplifying the impact of projects we advocate.

Some projects begin with a grant or a plan. Others begin with a question, a community goal, and the patience to see it through. Launching the Lagoon is the latter, a project that represents the culmination of more than a decade of vision, advocacy, planning, and collaboration in the Miller neighborhood of the City of Gary, Indiana.

Nexus Strategy & Implementation is proud to announce a new partnership with the Gary Public Transportation Corporation (GPTC) to support the launch of an equitable regional bike share program serving multiple cities across Northwest Indiana. This innovative initiative will introduce a fleet of e-bikes and coaster bikes, expanding access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation options for residents, workers, and visitors throughout the region.

The American Planning Association (APA) is the nation’s leading professional organization for planners, bringing together professionals who are dedicated to creating inclusive, sustainable, and resilient communities. APA Indiana (APA-IN) serves as the state chapter, supporting planners across Indiana through professional development, education, advocacy, and knowledge-sharing opportunities such as this annual conference.