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.

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.