Today, Mayor Sharon Tucker joined Fort Wayne Trails, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, residents and business owners, along with the City’s Public Works Division, to mark the beginning of construction of the Pufferbelly Trail from Ice Way to Washington Center Road.
News release from the City of Fort Wayne:
Mayor Tucker leads groundbreaking ceremony for new section of Pufferbelly Trail
Fort Wayne, Indiana (August 5, 2024) – Today, Mayor Sharon Tucker joined Fort Wayne Trails, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, residents and business owners, along with the City’s Public Works Division, to mark the beginning of construction of the Pufferbelly Trail from Ice Way to Washington Center Road, an over $3 million investment.
Map showing the construction of the Pufferbelly Trail between the Ice Way and West Washington Center Road. Map provided by the City of Fort Wayne.
This 1.7 mile phase of the Pufferbelly Trail will be a 12-foot wide asphalt trail and will provide connectivity to nearly 700 businesses, retail areas, restaurants and entertainment, including Glenbrook Square Mall, Glenbrook Commons, SportONE Parkview Fieldhouse and SportONE Parkview Icehouse.
The project will also include a trail hub rest area, a pavilion, a new intersection and mid-block crossing signalization, a bike repair station, park benches and picnic tables, drinking water fountains, landscaping, and much more.
The trail is designed to be accessible for all abilities, meeting ADA and PROWAG requirements. Driveway crossings will have a transition and ADA curb ramps will be installed at street crossings. Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) will be installed at all signalized intersections. Concrete pads for the park benches will be constructed large enough for a wheelchair to be placed next to the park bench.
The City of Fort Wayne received a nearly $2.7 million Next Level Trails grant from the State of Indiana for this project. The City’s non-profit partner, Fort Wayne Trails, will be contributing $300,000 in donor funds.
This section of the trail is expected to be complete in the fall of 2025.
As part of the Pufferbelly Trail, the previously announced Vann Family Crossing will be a bridge that crosses Coliseum Boulevard/State Road 930, on the west side of Bob Thomas Ford (north side) and Mission BBQ (south side). The Vann Family Foundation provided a $5 million gift to assist in the funding of the future bridge. The bridge will provide a safe and aesthetic crossing of one of the busiest roads in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana. The daily traffic count is 37,575 vehicles per day. The Vann Family Crossing is expected to be constructed in 2026, pending all necessary approvals.
The trail and bridge will connect 130 miles of existing trails in the greater Fort Wayne area. The Pufferbelly Trail is one segment of the 81-mile Poka-Bache Connector trail from Pokagon State Park in Angola to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton, which is 60% complete/funded.
“Trails provide a great way for residents and visitors to enjoy all that Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana have to offer,” said Mayor Tucker. “I’m encouraged that we’re able to continue to grow our network through collaborations that are making a positive difference. The State of Indiana was a key partner in ensuring that this section of the Pufferbelly Trail was able to be constructed. The best days are ahead for our greenways and trails.”
“Next Level Trails, which is Indiana’s largest-ever investment in trails, works to make connections both between and within communities. This extension of the Pufferbelly Trail demonstrates the power of those connections,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “With these 1.7 miles of new trail, we’re connecting more people to each other and their community.”
