IPRA Trails Gathering

August 29, 2025

Wolf Family Center - Salomon Farm Park | 817 W. Dupont Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46825

We are excited to announce that the 2025 Trails Gathering will take place August 29, 2025 in the vibrant city of Fort Wayne. This event will unite trail enthusiasts from across the state, providing a platform to network and talk about the significance of trails within our communities. Join us as we delve into pollinators, nuisance wildlife, tree hazards, invasive ID and hear the latest from a master naturalist. This is an event you do not want to miss!

Presentations:

Agenda:

Friday, August 29th, 2025

8:30AM - 9:00AM Check in and networking

9:15AM - 10:00 AM Session I

Room 1: Security on Trails: Keep the Community Coming Back - Mike Williams, Director of Operations, Security Pros

Room 2: Transforming Trails: Utilizing Paths & Walkways to Connect People With Natural Systems - Beau Green, Williams Creek Management; Evan Hosea, Williams Creek Management

10:00AM - 10:45 PM - Session II

Room 1: Encountering Wildlife on Trails - Jessica Merkling, DNR
Room 2: Indiana Master Naturalist Program: How to get involved and learn more about nature! - Jodi Heaston, Indiana Master Naturalist

10:45AM - 11:00 PM - Break

11:00AM - 12:00 PM - Session III

Room 1: Urban Forestry: An Introduction to Caring for Trees in the Built Environment - Ben McAllister, Purdue Urban Forestry Specialist, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Room 2: Slow Birding: A mindful approach to facilitating birding events - Michelle Morton, Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide 

12:00PM - 1:00 PM Networking Lunch

1:00PM - 1:45 PM - Session IV

Room 1: The Buzz on Mosquitoes: Considerations for mosquito management on the trail - Emily Justus, Outreach Coordinator, Purdue Department of Entomology
Room 2: From Playgrounds to Policy: Effective Advocacy for Parks and Recreation - Jonathan Blake, RJL Solutions

1:45PM - 2:00 PM - Break

2:00PM - 3:00PM - Session IV

Room 1: Identifying Tree Defects & Building a Proactive Maintenance Program - Arin Flint, Davey Resource Group
Room 2: DNR Trails Update - Dale Briar, Deputy Director of Community Grants & Trails, DNR; Allen Hurst, Trails Coordinator, DNR

3:00PM Tour of Salomon Farm Park

3:45PM Conclude

DNR Trails Update
This session provides a brief update on Indiana’s Next Level Trails (NLT) program, including the DNR Trail Finder, recent trail counter data, and progress on the Monon South corridor.

Speakers: Dale Briar, Deputy Director of Community Grants & Trails, Indiana Department of Natural Resources; Allen Hurst, Trails Coordinator, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Encountering Wildlife on Trails
Encountering wildlife while hiking the trails is part of the allure of getting out in nature.  However, have you ever wonder the best steps if you encountered wildlife that may need help or wildlife that you may want to avoid?  We’ll meet with Urban Wildlife Biologist Jessica Merkling to talk about best practices for different scenarios.  She’ll also talk about ways to improve our habitats along trails for people and for wildlife.  If we’re lucky, we’ll hopefully see some fun things to identify along the way.

Speaker:
Jessica Merkling, Urban Wildlife Biologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

From Playgrounds to Policy: Effective Advocacy for Parks and Recreation
This session is designed to empower parks and recreation professionals with the tools, strategies, and confidence to influence policy and secure support for their agencies. Participants will explore the difference between advocacy and lobbying, learn how to craft compelling messages, build relationships with decision-makers, and mobilize community support. Through real-world examples and actionable insights, this presentation will help attendees become powerful champions for parks and recreation at the local, state, and federal levels.

Speaker:
Jonathan Blake is a seasoned urban planning and parks professional with over 20 years of experience in local government administration, specializing in complex project management, operations, and executive leadership. As Senior Director of Planning at RJL Solutions, he leads the firm’s Economic and Community Development services, providing strategic direction and operational oversight to the department. Jonathan has successfully managed more than $45.2 million in federally funded transportation projects and $90 million in public-private partnerships. He holds certifications from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Certified Park & Recreation Professionals (CPRP), and Advanced Commercial Advisors (ACA). A graduate of Purdue University, Jonathan also holds a Master of Business Administration from Butler University. He is a member of the Carmel/Clay Board of Parks and Recreation and actively participates in several professional organizations, including the American Planning Association, the National Recreation & Park Association, and the Indiana Park and Recreation Association.

Identifying Tree Defects & Building a Proactive Maintenance Program

Objective Summary:
To provide experience for park managers and maintenance crew personnel practical guidance on recognizing common structural and health-related tree defects and how to use that knowledge to design and implement a proactive tree maintenance program. Participants will learn to shift from reactive to preventive tree care, improving public safety, reducing long-term costs, and enhancing urban canopy health.
Key Learning Points:

• Understand the most common types of tree defects and what they indicate about tree health and risk.

• Learn about levels of tree risk assessments and when to advance inspections.

• Learn how to use inventory data and inspection results to guide short- and long-term planning and budgeting.

Speaker:
Arin Flint - Davey Resource Group

Indiana Master Naturalist Program: How to get involved and learn more about nature!
The Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program provides many hands-on opportunities to learn about our Hoosier natural resources. It also provides a way to share that knowledge, along with life experiences, through volunteer service.  Over 5000 people have taken the classes over the years.  Learn how to join or host a class during this interactive program.

Speaker:
Jody Heaston, Volunteer and Indiana Master Naturalist Coordinator, Indiana State Parks, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Security on Trails: Keep the Community Coming Back
Discover how thoughtful safety strategies can transform trails into trusted community spaces. This talk explores practical approaches to trail security that foster a sense of belonging and encourage repeat visits. Whether you're designing urban greenways or rural paths, learn how to make trails feel safe, welcoming, and worth returning to.

Speaker:
Mike Williams is the Director of Operations for Security Pros and an industry veteran of the security world.

Slow Birding: A mindful approach to facilitating birding events
Slow Birding is a nature connection practice which elevates deep listening, intentional observation, and presence. Participants use their senses to witness birds and explore how these observations feel in the body, heart, and mind. Rather than a traditional "bird walk" where identifying and check-listing are elevated, this experience focuses on sensory observations in the present moment. Slow and intentional time in nature, such as a Slow Birding experience, can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, boost happiness, promote relaxation, and build connections to the natural world. This session, led by certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide Michelle Morton, will focus on strategies that trails professionals can utilize to integrate Slow Birding concepts into their guided birding events. 

Speaker:
Michelle Morton centers her professional and personal life through the lens of environmental kinship: everything in the natural world is interrelated and we humans cohabitate with the land, water, air, plants, animals, and more. In her role as a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, she aims to support humans in their relationship with and connection to natural spaces.  Michelle builds her nature-based guiding practice on her 19 years of work in formal and informal education settings.  Michelle currently resides in Fishers, Indiana and guides participants of all ages, abilities, and experience levels.

The Buzz on Mosquitoes: Considerations for mosquito management on the trail

Mosquitoes are a natural part of the ecosystem but can become a nuisance to park visitors. In this session we will discuss the mosquito life cycle and strategies to mitigate mosquito populations.

Speaker:
Emily Justus, Outreach Coordinator, Purdue Department of Entomology

Transforming Trails: Utilizing Paths & Walkways to Connect People With Natural Systems
We will discuss topics like ADA accessible trail construction/revitalization, best management practices, and reshaping the areas surrounding trails to connect people to nature via invasive species management and native landscapes.

Speaker:
Beau Green’s passion for working in the natural resource construction industry was established at an early age. He grew up working on their family farm, which allowed him to spend time outdoors while building personal and professional relationships int eh community. Beau is highly respected by his team and his valuable knowledge contributes to the high-quality projects that are expected from Williams Creek.

Evan Hosea grew up enjoying natural landscape and spending time outdoors. He took this interest to his collegiate study and pursued a degree in biology, ecology, and conservation at Franklin College. During his time at Franklin, Evan was also an undergraduate research assistant, diving into statistics, data processing, and greenhouse production of native plants and seeds. He has carried this field of study into a career rebuilding our natural environment at Williams Creek Management.

Urban Forestry: An Introduction to Caring for Trees in the Built Environment
Introduction to concepts in urban forestry and arboriculture.  In particular, why and how trees are cared for and the resources available to assist in maintaining them.

Speaker:

Ben McCallister, graduated from Purdue in 2006 with a BA in Photography then moved to Japan to teach English for 8 years. He returned to Indiana in 2015 to pursue a degree in Forestry, was introduced to arboriculture and urban forestry, and never looked back.

After graduating in 2018, he obtained his ISA Arborist Certification and headed to Portland, OR for a year to work as a climbing arborist for Bartlett Tree Experts. In that time, he was accepted into the Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) graduate program back at Purdue and returned in 2019 to pursue his Master’s in Urban Ecology. While he was finishing his program he began work as one of the campus arborists at Purdue. He finished his Master’s in the summer of 2021 and continued as campus arborist until joining the Extension team as the Urban Forestry Specialist and head of the Urban Forestry program in FNR in June 2022.