National Trails Day 2026: Building Bikes, Building Partnerships, Building Community
- Jessie Renslow
- Jun 6
- 5 min read
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.
At Nexus Strategy & Implementation, we are privileged to work alongside organizations that share our vision of creating healthier, safer, and more connected communities. This year's National Trails Day perfectly demonstrated what is possible when community leaders, nonprofits, government agencies, and residents come together around a shared purpose.
A Day Filled with Community Milestones
While communities across the country celebrated National Trails Day, several of our local partners were marking significant achievements of their own.
At the Douglas Center in located the Miller Beach neighborhood of Gary, Indiana. At the gateway to the Indiana Dunes National Park, community members gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newest section of the Marquette Greenway, a transformative regional trail system that will ultimately connect Chicago, IL to New Buffalo, Michigan.
The event highlighted years of planning, collaboration, and investment in active transportation infrastructure throughout Northwest Indiana.
At the same time, Take Bike Streets launched its 11th season with the first Ken Parr Build-a-Bike Workshop of the summer. Take Bike the Streets is one of three signature projects run by local nonprofit the Volunteer Office for Community Accessibility, Resource, and Training. The event delivered immediate impact for local families:
18 community members participated (riders ranged from 3 years old to 76 years old)
11 donated bicycles were serviced and distributed
4 additional bicycles were repaired
1 stroller was donated to a local family
One family committed to bringing five outgrown bicycles back to future workshops so they can be refurbished and redistributed
These numbers represent more than equipment. They represent mobility, independence, recreation, and access to opportunity.
Launching Safe Routes to Schools
National Trails Day also marked the official launch of a new Safe Routes to Schools initiative through a partnership between VOCART and Health by Design.
The program is designed to make it safer and easier for students and families to walk, bike, and roll throughout their communities. By improving education, awareness, and infrastructure planning, the initiative seeks to create lasting improvements in transportation safety and accessibility for residents of all ages.
One of the day's most meaningful conversations came from Nirvana, a mother of seven, who shared her excitement about recent sidewalk improvements near the Aetna neighborhood of Gary, which borders U.S. 12 and U.S. 20.
"I'm soooo happy they're finally putting in sidewalks on 12 & 20. When my kids and me walk to my mom's place on Lake Street, we now have an actual sidewalk and even some bike lanes too. It's much better. We go to the Douglas Center and enjoy their site and trails right by my mom's. If we could get a few crosswalks and teach people to use the bike lanes and respect them, not park cars on them, it would be even better."
Her comments serve as a powerful reminder that transportation projects are not simply about roads and sidewalks, they are about improving daily life for families and creating safer options for everyone.
Strengthening Regional Partnerships
The day also provided opportunities to advance important conversations about the future of active transportation in Gary and Northwest Indiana.
We were honored to welcome Mitch Barloga from NIRPC, who discussed several exciting initiatives through the NWI Thrive Coalition with the volunteers at the Ken Parr Build a Bike. Mitch has been working on getting 60 miles of the Marquette Greenway completed within Indiana.
Announcing a New Collaboration with VOCART
Nexus Strategy & Implementation is especially proud to announce our newest collaboration with the Volunteer Office of Community Resource and Training (VOCART).
Through VOCART's Safe Routes to School Grant initiative, Nexus will be providing in-kind strategic and program development services to help elevate one of the organization's signature community programs.
Together, we will be developing the Take Bike the Streets Curriculum, an educational framework designed to make bicycle safety, transportation literacy, and active mobility more accessible to a broader and more diverse audience.
The curriculum will help participants build confidence riding in their communities, understand traffic safety principles, navigate local infrastructure, and embrace cycling as a practical transportation option, not just recreation.
It is a tremendous honor to support organizations whose missions align so closely with our own values. VOCART has consistently demonstrated a commitment to community empowerment, accessibility, and equity, and we are excited to contribute our expertise to help advance those goals.
By donating our services to this initiative, we hope to help create safer, more accessible transportation opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities. We believe that every person deserves access to safe streets, connected trails, and transportation choices that support healthy, active living.
Looking Ahead
National Trails Day 2026 reminded us that meaningful change happens through partnerships.
Whether it's a new trail connection, a refurbished bicycle, a safer route to school, or a community member sharing their vision for a better neighborhood, every step forward contributes to a larger movement.
We extend our gratitude to every volunteer, donor, advocate, partner, and resident who helped make this day possible.
Together, we're building bikes.
We're building safer streets.
And we're building a stronger future for Northwest Indiana.
Happy National Trails Day!
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