The City of Fort Wayne’s High Street CPTED Pilot Area initiative has captured the 2026 Project of the Year award from the U.S. CPTED Association.
City of Fort Wayne news release:
Fort Wayne Earns 2026 CPTED Project of the Year award
Fort Wayne, Indiana (February 16, 2026) – The City of Fort Wayne’s High Street CPTED Pilot Area initiative has captured the 2026 Project of the Year award from the U.S. CPTED Association. Crime in the High Street pilot area decreased 40.3 percent after the project was implemented.
CPTED stands for crime prevention through environmental design and involves increasing community connections and designing spaces, such as parks, neighborhoods or buildings, so they naturally discourage crime and make people feel safer. Putting CPTED into practice can include practices such as adding lighting, clearing overgrown shrubs and adding public art.
During its recent annual convention, the U.S. CPTED Association presented Neighborhood Planner Megan Grable, the project’s manager, with the award (photo attached). The award recognizes an innovative, evidence-based, and community-driven project that has redefined how Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) can be implemented at the municipal level.
“The High Street CPTED Pilot demonstrates what is possible when CPTED is applied intentionally, evaluated rigorously, and grounded in community partnership,” said U.S. CPTED Association Board member Ed Fritz, who works for the Boise, Idaho police department. “This project exemplifies the future of CPTED—evidence-based, scalable, and capable of influencing policy and practice far beyond its original boundaries.”
The High Street CPTED Pilot began as a result of neighborhood interviews and surveys conducted in 2018 by the Neighborhoods Department. During those interviews, residents shared their concern with the increasing amount of criminal activity on and near High Street in Northwest Fort Wayne. As a result, planners worked with the Fort Wayne Police Department to implement CPTED principles and increase community engagement.
The Neighborhoods Department then worked collaboratively with Fort Wayne Public Works, Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation, the Office of Housing & Neighborhood Services and Neighborhood Code Compliance to improve the area with: new curbs, sidewalks, streetlights, crosswalks, motion sensor lights, murals, street trees and improvements to several homes along the corridor.
Click here for more information about the project.
For more information about the U.S. CPTED Association and the 2026 Awards, visit USCPTED.COM.
The City of Fort Wayne’s Community Development Division works to establish Fort Wayne as the Community of Choice for residents, visitors and businesses by growing the economy, strengthening neighborhoods and supporting housing options. Visit CityofFortWayne.in.gov/CD for more information.
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