Representatives from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne will make a check presentation to the New Haven Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council and City of New Haven in the amount of $25,000 on December 1, 2025.
City of New Haven Indiana news release:
Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne to Present Grant Award to Youth Organization
New Haven, Indiana (December 1, 2025) — Youth in New Haven are hard at work developing a new park and their hard work is paying off.
Representatives from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne will make a check presentation to the New Haven Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) and City of New Haven in the amount of $25,000 on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room of New Haven City Hall, located at 815 Lincoln Highway East in New Haven, Indiana.
MYAC is a non-profit, non-political teen leadership organization meant to empower youth in the community, equipping them with valuable life skills. Taking on this project, named Guardian Park, embodies all MYAC aims to do by giving students experience in fundraising, project management and government relations as they engage with several of the city’s departments.
“Getting involved in this project has given us a chance to be a part of something big in New Haven. In 2024, we began this project with teen input and named the park, but there’s so much more,” MYAC President Arianna St. John-Jones said. “We have been working with an engineering firm, formulated a budget, have been involved in the design process and look forward to the entire process along the way. Our goal is to create a park that belongs to the New Haven community for residents of all ages and to leave a legacy for MYAC.”
The creation of Guardian Park — which will sit immediately east of city hall — will unfold in three phases. Phase I of the park is expected to consist of playground equipment with swings, slides and a walkway bridge. The park is also expected to include a jungle dome, sensory equipment, park benches, and more. Phase II will include park courts for sports like pickleball, volleyball and badminton. There will also be a fountain, which MYAC members have affectionately named Serenity Circle. Phase III is expected to consist of a large donor plaque, large MYAC letters, additional art installations, family memorial trees and landscaping.
Guardian Park is a passion project not only for the students involved, but also for Mayor Steve McMichael and his team. “I am incredibly proud to work with these brilliant young minds,” McMichael said. “Hands-on experience is one of the best ways to learn and gain experience. Creating Guardian Park gives these students something real to work towards and hold on to. I hope that, years from now, they will carry this memory forward and share it with their own children.”
Helping fund the park felt like a natural fit for the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. Chief Impact Officer Alison Gerardot said, “We are pleased to present this grant funding to the City of New Haven and the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council and help fund this park. Creating a community where every person can thrive is central to our mission and values. …Supporting the New Haven community is important to us, and we thank Mayor McMichael and the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council for their leadership and example on this project.”
While this grant award is a wonderful milestone for MYAC, members are still working diligently to raise the remainder of the $125,000 total. They also plan to explore crowdfunding opportunities through the state. If you would like to donate or support MYAC in creating Guardian Park, please contact Deb-Anne Smith at dsmith@newhaven.in.gov.
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About City of New Haven
New Haven is a vibrant community of approximately 16,500 people in Eastern Allen County. New Haven prides itself as a community that serves. The McMichael administration is focused on making New Haven the best place to live, work, play, run a business or visit in Northeast Indiana. More information can be found at the City’s website NewHaven.IN.Gov.
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