Annual Great Miami Riverway Summit

About the Annual Riverway Summit

The Great Miami River Summit was first co-hosted in 2008 by the Miami Conservancy District and the University of Dayton. Since then, the Summit has traveled each year to a different host community along the 99-mile river corridor — from Hamilton and Sidney to Piqua, Troy, Miamisburg, and beyond — becoming a signature event for advancing a shared vision of the river as an economic driver, unifying force, and competitive advantage for Southwest Ohio. 

This annual gathering brings together community leaders, river advocates, planners, artists, and residents to reimagine how riverfronts and riverway communities can thrive together — socially, economically, and environmentally. Each year's program is hosted by the Great Miami Riverway, a program of the Miami Conservancy District, and brings together community leaders, business owners, planners, and recreation advocates from across the corridor. Whether the focus is riverfront design, trail connectivity, economic revitalization, or outdoor recreation, every Summit offers panels and discussions centered on building a stronger future for the river corridor.

Past Summits have explored topics ranging from flood protection and trail safety to equitable outdoor access and riverfront redevelopment, and have featured speakers from cities, parks, businesses, and state agencies up and down the watershed. In 2025, the Summit was recognized with an Award of Excellence by the Ohio Park and Recreation Association. 

Browse the recordings below to revisit past Summits and see how communities along the Great Miami River have grown, partnered, and reimagined their riverfronts year after year.

2027 - To be hosted by Montgomery County - Location to be announced!

Previous Events

Watch the 2026 Riverway Summit

Watch the 2025 Riverway Summit

Watch the 2024 Riverway Summit

Watch the 2023 Riverway Summit

Watch the 2022 Riverway Summit

 

History of the Riverway Summit

The Miami Conservancy District and the University of Dayton (UD) co-hosted the first Great Miami River Summit on the UD campus in 2008. The goals of the Summit were to develop a set of recommendations to stimulate river corridor investments in the cities; to share plans for riverfront development and to explore opportunities to leverage individual projects into a collective power; to discuss and explore their shared interests in successful cities and farmland preservation; and for Great Miami River stakeholders to begin to develop a shared vision of the river as an economic driver, unifying force, and competitive advantage for the region.

  • 2026 - Hosted by the City of Hamilton at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts
  • 2025 - Hosted by the City of Miamisburg at Riverfront Park
  • 2024 - Hosted by the City of Piqua at Fort Piqua Plaza
  • 2023 - Hosted by the City of Sidney at The Historic Sidney Theater
  • 2022 - Hosted by the Miami Conservancy District at the Carillon Park
  • 2021 - Hosted by the City of Hamilton in outdoor locations around the city
  • 2020 - Hosted by the City of Hamilton in a virtual meeting
  • 2019 - Hosted by the City of Troy at the Hobart Arena
  • 2008-2018 - Hosted at the University of Dayton, the Ohio's River Corridor Association, and the Miami Conservancy District plus cities, counties, and many partners.