In April 2008, regional leaders gathered at the University of Dayton for the first Great Miami River Summit, a meeting that would eventually evolve into what we now recognize as the Great Miami Riverway initiative. Co-hosted by the University of Dayton and the Miami Conservancy District (MCD), the summit brought together elected officials, community leaders, private-sector partners, and representatives from riverfront cities, counties, and agricultural communities across the watershed.
In his opening remarks, UD President Daniel Curran reminded attendees that the Great Miami River has shaped Southwest Ohio since long before highways and industry, connecting communities from Sidney to Fairfield. He traced the region’s evolving relationship with the river—from the 1913 flood and the era of “keeping the river away from us,” through the later environmental era of “keeping us away from the river.” Now, he said, it was time to refocus on the river as a shared asset that could unite communities, spur investment, and strengthen regional identity.
The Summit’s goals were to:
Share local riverfront plans and explore how individual projects could build greater collective impact;
Strengthen the relationship between river cities and surrounding agricultural lands;
Begin developing a shared regional vision of the river as an economic driver and a unifying force.
Participants included:
Mayors from Piqua, Troy, Dayton, Miamisburg and Hamilton
County commissioners from throughout the watershed
State representatives
Private-sector leaders (NCR, the Dayton Development Coalition)
Five Rivers MetroParks
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Local chambers, park districts, tourism bureaus, and economic development offices
Speakers highlighted the river’s potential for:
Economic development and business attraction
Recreational growth (paddling, biking, trails)
Responsible riverfront development
Downtown revitalization
Preserving farmland and watershed character
Cities shared early concepts for riverfront improvements, and private sector partners discussed the role of the river in talent attraction and business recruitment.
The Summit emphasized collaboration across jurisdictions and sectors—universities, agriculture, business, parks, and municipalities—encouraging communities to work in complementary ways rather than recreating the same projects in isolation.
This first River Summit marked the beginning of a shared regional vision for the Great Miami River. It sparked ongoing collaboration that would eventually grow into the Great Miami Riverway—a long-term effort to connect riverfront communities, activate public spaces, develop trails, and enhance recreation and tourism along the entire corridor.
The resulting study and planning process continue to influence decisions today—shaping riverfront parks, guiding investment, and strengthening the region’s identity around the Great Miami River. It remains a touchstone for regional collaboration and a guide for planning, advocacy, and economic development across Southwest Ohio.