Outdoor recreation partners gather for Parks Summit
- Lori Gagen
- May 5
- 2 min read
NOBLE COUNTY, IN – On Wednesday, April 23, the Noble County Parks Board hosted its
2025 Annual Parks Summit at the Stanley Schoolhouse at Chain O’ Lakes State
Park. Twenty community leaders, parks professionals, and partner organizations gathered to share updates, align goals, and celebrate the progress made across Noble County’s parks and
recreation systems.
“This summit brings together the energy, vision, and dedication that make our community
special,” said Diann Scott during her welcome remarks. “We’re proud of the collaboration across
towns, nonprofits, and county offices. It's why we are here to connect and collaborate around
parks and outdoor activities like hiking, boating, and more.”
Chain O’ Lakes State Park Update:
The park has welcomed over 500,000 visitors, with major new projects including native history signage, a pollinator planting area, and new outdoor education spaces.
Interactive Learning:
Guests learned about the schoolhouse’s history and participated in team-
building outdoor games and guided hikes.
Partner Presentations:
Organizations like Visit Noble County, Noble Trails Inc., Rome City, Albion Parks, Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site, Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, Ligonier Parks, and
others shared updates about new trail connections, playground improvements, accessibility/ADA
updates, and the growing popularity of events like 5K races and nature festivals.
Master Plan Round Table:
Facilitated by Grace Caswell, this discussion allowed each partner to present their strategic or master plans and explore opportunities for collaboration and grant funding.
Notable announcements:
Visit Noble County’s recent implementation of a visitor data tool and over $4 million in economic impact from 28 local festivals.
Noble Trails vision is to connect Noble County trails with regional systems across northeast Indiana.
Rome City’s 5-year master plan emphasizes accessibility and new water access projects.
The Noble County Parks Board wishes to thank all participants and community partners for attending and contributing to the annual event.
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