This work is concerned with the design and effects of the synchronization gains on the synchronization problem for a class of networked distributed parameter systems. The networked systems, assumed to be described by the same evolution equation in a Hilbert space, differ in their initial conditions. To address the synchronization problem, a coupling term containing the pairwise state differences of all the networked systems weighted by the synchronization gains is included in the controller of each networked system. By considering the aggregate closed-loop systems, an optimization scheme for the synchronization gains is proposed by minimizing an appropriate measure of synchronization. The integrated control and synchronization design is subsequently cast as an optimal control problem, the solution of which is found via the solution of parameterized operator Lyapunov equations. An alternative to the optimization of the synchronization gains is also proposed in which the adaptation of synchronization gains is derived from Lyapunov redesign methods. Both choices of the proposed synchronization controllers aim at achieving both the control and the synchronization objectives. An extensive numerical study examines the various aspects of the optimization and adaptation of the gains on the control and synchronization of networked 1D parabolic differential equations.