Fort Wayne City Utilities is moving forward with plans to add lighting and seating to the Colonial Heritage Wetlands through a 2025 Agile Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne City Utilities news release:
Enhancements Coming to Colonial Heritage Wetlands
Community Foundation Grant Funds Wetlands UpgradesProject Highlights:
- $10,000 Agile Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne funds electrical wiring for lighting and seating enhancements.
- New lighting along the walking path to improve visibility and extend safe use into evening hours.
- Benches placed throughout the trail corridor to provide a welcoming space for residents
- Wetlands successful in slowing and cleaning storm runoff to protect waterways.
Fort Wayne, Indiana (February 27, 2026) – After securing additional funding, City Utilities is moving forward with plans to add lighting and seating to the Colonial Heritage Wetlands through a 2025 Agile Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.
When the wetlands were completed in 2023 as part of the Hessen-Cassel Road stormwater improvement project, lighting and benches were discussed during neighborhood meetings but were not included in the original construction due to funding limitations. City Utilities later pursued additional funding to bring those features to the site.
The $10,000 Agile Grant will fund electrical wiring along the site’s existing walking path, enabling installation of new lighting and seating. These enhancements will improve safety, accessibility, and year-round usability for residents.
“The Colonial Heritage Wetlands were built to reduce flooding and safeguard our waterways, and the system is successfully capturing and filtering stormwater as intended,” said Anne Marie Smrchek, P.E., manager of Stormwater Engineering. “With support from the Agile Grant, we’re now adding seating and lighting to create a welcoming space where residents can enjoy the restored landscape while the infrastructure continues doing its job.”
The wetlands reduce flooding for surrounding neighborhoods by slowing stormwater during heavy rain and filtering it through native plants with deep root systems that absorb excess water and stabilize soil. A two-stage ditch and bioswale help manage flows while protecting the Treier Ditch and Maumee River waterways.
With this grant secured, City Utilities is strengthening a site that works hard during storms — and making it more comfortable and accessible for the residents who use it every day.
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