WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – The first phase of the Whitewater Gorge project is finishing up with the opening of Test Road Trailhead.

Denise Retz, Park Superintendent for Richmond Parks and Recreation, said the momentum behind the project started in 2019, when Richmond completed a comprehensive city plan, followed by a Park Comprehensive Master Plan. Both plans, developed with extensive public input, highlighted the need to better activate and invest in the Whitewater Gorge.

“The gorge trail has seen a lot of activity, it’s been utilized a lot,” Retz said. “So, there was a reason why we did start there. We wanted to open it up, we wanted it to be more accessible.”

The feedback led to the creation of the Gorge Activation Plan, a community-driven roadmap shaped through surveys and public meetings. The plan divides the gorge into three districts: south, central and north. The plan outlines priorities for each area, ranging from trail improvements and water access to recreation and future attractions.

Phase one focused on the south end of the gorge, home to the city’s oldest trail and trailhead. The goal was accessibility for everyone and a better connection to the river.

For this project, the city was able to secure Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, matched by the Richmond Redevelopment Commission. Additional partners later joined in, including Revitalize Richmond, Lilly Endowment, the Wayne County Foundation, and more.

“We have a lot of partners who have come together to say that they wanted to fund certain aspects of the activation of these projects, whether it be phase one, phase two, phase three,” Retz said.

Construction started last May. The newly improved trailhead now features:

• ADA-accessible parking, ramps, and shelter
• Handicap-accessible picnic tables
• River overlook with steps down to the riverbed
• New lighting, security systems and signage
• Expanded parking and gated access from dawn to dusk
• Three new “rest nodes” along the trail with benches, bike racks, and trash receptacles

Retz said these additions help to transform a trailhead that was aging, now into a welcoming destination connected to the city’s Greenway system.

“Before it wasn’t necessarily a good spot to want to come. Now it is,” she said.

Some finishing touches include a custom-built railing, additional lighting and electrical work; all of which are expected to be completed soon. Landscaping and tree mitigation have also been addressed, with more trees planted than were removed and an emphasis on low-maintenance designs.

With phase one complete, attention is turning north and central. The city has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a developer to handle phases two and three, with responses due in mid-January.

Planned improvements include:

• Phase Two (North End): a Weir Dam overlook, fishing pier, kayak and canoe out-in, and potential future outfitter services along Sim Hodgin Parkway
• Phase Three (Central Area): A natural playground, bouldering garden, riverwalk, potential amphitheater, and possible zipline partnership near the Starr-Gennett site

Current goals place phase two completion by the end of 2026 and phase three by 2028, depending on funding, permitting and development timelines.

Much of the funding is restricted grant and partner funding that cannot be used for other parks. Maintenance, Retz said, will be an ongoing priority.

Residents are encouraged to get involved by volunteering, adopting trail sections, and reporting issues directly to the Parks Department at 983-PARK, rather than only posting concerns on social media.

“These are all of our parks, so we want to make sure that we’re doing this together,” Retz said. “We believe our community deserves much more and we’re trying to give that to them.”

The Gorge Activation Plan is part of a broader push to reinvest in Richmond’s park system. Up next is the Glen Miller Improvement Plan, set to launch within the next month. Like the gorge plan, it will be community-driven, with public meetings and surveys guiding an eight-month planning process.

“Glen Miller serves as one of our big flagship parks and it should operate that way and look that way. We’re going to make that happen together,” Retz said.

Retz said the push to move these projects forward, combined with efforts like Revitalize Richmond, is creating momentum and encouraging people to strive for more.

“When you remain stagnant in what you do, or what you want, then there’s no purpose. You can be that person that wants to help and continue to drive things forward,” she said.

Residents can follow progress and updates at gorgeactivation.com, where project phases and timelines are posted.