News & Information

City backs growth of greenway
Trail expansion gains pledge of $2 million
Benjamin Lanka - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004

Mayor Graham Richard on Wednesday promised to spend $2 million worth of city money in an attempt to generate a total of $8 million to improve the city's Rivergreenway system.
 
"This is money that will help us build more trails, maintain trails and
 encourage connection within our system," he said.
 
Richard made the announcement before hosting a meeting with several
different groups committed to building trails in and around Fort Wayne.
 
Richard said beginning next year, the city will spend $500,000 each of the
next four years, for a total of $2 million, toward greenway development
and renovations. He said that money can be used to attract state and
federal grants along with donations from foundations and private
residents.
 
He said the priority for the money is to improve the existing trail system
and make connections between city trails and other trails. The
improvements to existing trails will include better signs around the paths
to assist users and additional parking areas at trail entrances to allow
residents to drive to the paths.
 
Mike Kelly, head of Northwest Allen County Trails, said Richard's proposal
will help his group tie into the city faster than expected.
 

"It brings it all together a lot quicker than what we thought," he said.
 
In the next five years, the northwest group plans to build a 10-mile trail
along an abandoned rail bed from Coliseum Boulevard to North County Line
Road. Kelly said the summit of greenway groups will help coordinate plans
and financing applications, especially because state representatives were in attendance.
 
Augustus Berry, 37, of Fort Wayne, said he was grateful to have the
greenway, but he wished it could be used to travel to work.
 
"The Rivergreenway is of no use except for recreation," he said.
 
Berry said it was a good idea to connect trails across the county and
hoped to get some businesses along the path that would cater to cyclists
and pedestrians.
 
Richard said most of the city's money will come from its county economic
development income tax revenue.
 
"Our efforts to enhance the greenway system will help us build a better
 city and retain and gain jobs," he said.
 
The mayor said he will present his plan for all of the city's CEDIT
dollars next week, including how much will be given to each City Council
district. Some councilmen have expressed concern about losing district
money they say enhances community-oriented government.
 
Richard said the specific projects to be completed with the money will be
announced in the coming weeks. He said it will be up to the city's
greenway director to find additional money and appropriate projects for
the money.
 
The council must approve creating a greenway director position, but no
member has vocally opposed it for the 2005 budget. Jack Stark has been the greenway coordinator since June on a volunteer basis.
 
The meeting also allowed different groups to present their plans for new
trails in the county and address questions from residents. Richard said
the city's 20 miles of trails could expand to 80 miles if each group's
plan comes to fruition.