The Miami Conservancy District (MCD) is proud to announce that the 18th Annual Great Miami Riverway Summit has been recognized with a 2025 Award of Excellence by the Ohio Park and Recreation Association (OPRA).
Held on May 2, 2025, in Miamisburg’s revitalized Riverfront Park, along the Miami Conservancy District flood protection levee, the Summit attracted hundreds of leaders from cities, counties, and park districts along the 99-mile+ Great Miami River corridor. The event showcased innovative “community as venue” programming, guiding participants through the riverfront, downtown revitalization, and interactive learning experiences.
More than 2,000 community members also engaged with ORSANCO’s 2,200-gallon traveling aquarium featuring native fish from the Great Miami River, highlighting decades of conservation success. Summit sessions explored equitable outdoor access, river stewardship, and public safety, with a keynote speaker from the Children & Nature Network, emphasizing the importance of connecting communities to their natural resources for better mental health.
Since the Riverway’s formal launch in 2017, the (Great Miami Riverway) corridor has seen a 55% increase in tourism, generating $1.2 billion in visitor spending annually, supporting 11,000 jobs, and producing $140 million in tax revenue according to a study by Oxford Economics, demonstrating the economic and social impact of collaborative river stewardship.
The OPRA Annual Awards of Excellence will be presented at a banquet on February 3, 2026, during the OPRA Conference & Trade Show at the Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio. One first-place winner will receive the Governor’s Award, a “best-in-show” honor that includes a $500 donation to the agency’s foundation.
“Parks and recreation professionals throughout Ohio work every day to improve quality of life,” said OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward. “The Riverway Summit is a shining example of that work.”
About the Great Miami Riverway
The Great Miami Riverway is a 99+-mile regional destination in southwest Ohio of paved trails and connected communities where you can surf the river, cycle the bike trail, and find your way through charming downtowns. Led by the Miami Conservancy District and a coalition of 20+ riverfront communities, park districts, and organizations, the Great Miami Riverway is building a strong, vibrant network of communities, connected by the Great Miami River, by increasing economic and community investment to attract more visitors, customers, jobs, and talented workers to southwest Ohio.
Learn more at GreatMiamiRiverway.com
