(2-5 years): Figuring out whether there are enough cash resources, partners, and public desire for a proposed stretch of trail. How much does it cost? Each mile of trail averages between $800,000-$1.2 million.
(3-6 months): Let’s take a serious look at this proposed section, and determine whether there will be any obstacles. Is there a wetland, or a creek? Which side of the road will have the greatest benefit, and least impact? What is the grade? Are there resources like mature trees we’d like to work around? The partners in the project visit the site several times with engineering experts, to determine how best to create the new trail.
(6-12 months): Once the Pre-engineering decisions are made, experienced engineers will survey and create the construction plans or “blueprints” for the actual project, taking into consideration all of the questions addressed above.
(3-6 months): Projects that are being completed by municipalities and/or using public resources from local, state, and federal sources must follow statutes regarding open bidding for these projects.
(1-2 years): With a final plan and the funds in place, the partners can approach property owners to acquire the needed permission to proceed with the project. This includes the purchasing of right-of-way or donation by property owner, the granting of easements, and so forth.
(6-9 months): The construction phase includes relocating utilities as needed and installing the trail. Building a trail requires the same preliminary work as building a road.
(3-6 months): Once the trail construction is completed, the entire project gets a face lift, with fresh grass seedings, landscaping and trees as called for in the specific project, benches, signage, etc.
CARROLL ROAD TRAIL – BETHEL ROAD TO MILLSTONE DRIVE
CARROLL ROAD TRAIL – FAIRGROUNDS TO LIMA ROAD
CARROLL ROAD TRAIL – LIMA ROAD TO SHEARWATER RUN
LAKE AVE TRAIL – N COLISEUM BLVD TO REED ROAD
LINCOLN HIGHWAY TRAIL – GREEN ROAD TO MINNICH ROAD
MAPLECREST ROAD SOUTH – STATE RD 930 TO SEILER RD
NORTH CLINTON STREET – ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
PUFFERBELLY TRAIL – FITCH RD TO COUNTY LINE
SCOTT ROAD TRAIL – BASS ROAD TO ILLINOIS RD
SIX MILE CREEK TRAIL EXTENSION
STELLHORN ROAD TRAIL – NORTHWOOD PLAZA TO EICHER DRIVE
STELLHORN ROAD TRAIL – WHEELOCK ROAD TO MAPLECREST ROAD
FRANKE PARK ROAD AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS
Completed Phases: 
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Description: This trail has been paved. Restoration work and road work continue.
Updated: January 2021
Completed Phases: 
This Project Is Complete
Project Owner: Allen County
Description: The Allen County Highway Department is building a 10′ wide multi-purpose trail along Bass Road as part of the road-widening project in several phases between 2017 and 2023. This trail will be constructed along the north side of the road between Clifty Parkway and Thomas Road. This phase of the project was bid in March of 2021. From just west of Thomas to Clifty Parkway was completed in September and is open.
Updated: November 2022
Completed Phases:
This Project Is Complete
Project Owner: Allen County
Description: The Allen County Highway Department is building a 10′ wide multi-purpose trail along Bass Road as part of the road-widening project in several phases between 2017 and 2023. This trail will be constructed along the north side of the road between Hadley Road and Clifty Parkway. This phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in 2019. This project is complete
Updated: December 2021
Completed Phases: 
This Project Is Complete
Project Owner: Allen County
Description: The Allen County Highway Department is building a 10′ wide multi-purpose trail along Bass Road as part of the road-widening project in several phases between 2020 and 2026. Construction has started on this section of trail from Hillegas Rd to N Thomas Rd. This section of trail was completed in November 2021.
Updated: December 2021
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works
Description: The current phase will construct a 1.8 mile trail along the west bank of St Joe River from St. Joe Center Road (where it will connect with Rivergreenway) to Beckett’s Run and then westerly along Beckett’s Run to Clinton. In the future, the Beckett’s Run Trail will extend to Salomon Farm Park and the Pufferbelly Trail, creating a 17-mile loop connecting the Rivergreenway and the Pufferbelly. Fort Wayne Trails assisted with the development of a logo for this trail. The trail is paved and handrailing is completed. Planted 63 trees and 16 shrubs and removed invasive Bradford Pears with 36 volunteers in October 2021.
Updated: December 2021
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Completed
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Parks Department & DNR
Description: 8ft wide asphalt trail from the newly constructed Bass Rd Trail heading north into the park. The trail will provide park benches in several locations with scenic overlooks. The trail will run parallel to the Flaugh Ditch for a distance, providing views of the stream. At the north end of the trail there will a loop as a turn around with a picnic area and open-air pavilion. The trail will connect to the existing splash pad, pavilion, playground, and stone trail.
This trail has been completed and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on 7/10/23.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: Allen County, Fort Wayne Trails Inc.
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: Allen County Highway Department with assistance from Fort Wayne Trails will construct a 10′ trail on the north side of Carroll Road from the new trail built by Pathway Church east to connect to the Pufferbelly Trail.
Construction was completed in June 2022.
Updated: October 2022
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works, Fort Wayne Trails Inc
Description: This project will include a 12′ wide curb-faced trail constructed on the south side of Dupont Road, filling a gap that will create a 4.7-mile trail along Dupont Road from Lima to Tonkel Road. The project also includes a sidewalk on the north side from Pine Mills Road west to the strip mall. The city is currently in the process of finalizing property acquisition from the last property owner and Fort Wayne Trails is assisting with fundraising for the project. Construction on this project has begun and a ribbon-cutting is scheduled for December 2021.
Updated: August 2022
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Description: This trail project is part of a larger road widening project that will include a 10′ wide trail on the south side and a sidewalk on the north side of Dupont. It also includes a below-grade Pufferbelly Trail crossing of Dupont Road. This project is complete.
Updated: January 2020
Completed Phases: 
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works and DNR
Description: The City received a Recreational Trails Program grant for this .5-mile asphalt trail on the former Grand Rapids – Indiana railroad corridor. The project received NEPA approval from INDOT and received Rule 5 permit. The project has been bid and construction started in May 2022. The trail is 98% complete and the project is awaiting benches and trash cans to be delivered.
Updated: August 2022
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
Description: A new entrance off Goshen Road is planned for Franke Park. A trail will be constructed alongside the road. The project includes road, a bridge, a 400-person pavilion, and trail. Construction has begun on this project.
For more information about Franke Park, please visit the Franke Park Master Plan here> Franke Park Master Plan
Ribbon cutting for this project was held on 11/8/2024.
Updated: November 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: This Project is Complete
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works
Description: This project will include an 8′-10′ wide trail constructed on the west side of Hanna Street. The trail has been paved and restoration work is complete.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City Of Fort Wayne
Description: 8′ wide concrete trail on east side of Hanna St. from Pontiac to Oxford and the west side from Oxford to Rudisill. Will connect with Weisser Park; Weisser Park Elementary School; bike lanes on Rudisill; and Foster Park & Rivergreenway via Rudisill bike lanes and sidewalk.
Updated: October 2018
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works
Description: This project will include an 8′ wide trail constructed on the west side of Hanna Street.
This project is complete.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Description: The City of Fort Wayne will construct a 10′ trail along the west side of Hanna Street from US 27/Lafayette Blvd to Tillman Road and connect to Tillman Park. A sidewalk will also be constructed along the south side of Tillman Road to North Phoenix Parkway and along North Phoenix Parkway to connect to existing sidewalks at Southtown Centre. Construction is scheduled to begin in August, 2019. PROJECT IS COMPLETE.
Updated: November 2019
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Community Development partnering with Public Works
Description: Ten-foot wide asphalt trail on the north side of the street. Construction is complete from Randallia to Coliseum Blvd.
Updated: November 2022
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: This Project is Complete
Project Owner: City of New Haven
Description: The City of New Haven will complete a road project on Landin Road, turning the four-lane road into a two-lane road with 8′ trails on each side, extending from Powers Ave. to North River Road. Construction is planned in two phases in 2021 and 2022. Phase 1 is Powers to north of the railroad tracks and will be finished by the end of October 2021. Phase 2 is north of the railroad track to North River Rd and will be constructed immediately following Phase 1. Phase 2 has been approved by INDOT and has been awarded.
This Project is complete.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works, Redevelopment Commission
Description: The City of Fort Wayne has a TIF (tax) district that will fund this project during the next few years. The trail will connect the existing trail on Liberty Mills Road, crossing to the north side at Middle Grove and continuing east to Falls Drive and the Village of Coventry Shopping area. Pre-construction meeting has been held. Utilities continue relocations. Construction is 95% complete. A ribbon cutting will be held in late August.
Updated: September 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works, INDOT
Description: Ludwig Road will be realigned from Coldwater to Ludwig Circle East. A trail will be included as part of the project. The project also includes a roundabout at Brotherhood Mutual. Pre-construction meeting was held in late January 2022. This project is complete.
Updated: February 2023
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works
Description: City will be widening this section of Maplecrest Rd. An 8′ wide trail will be included on the west side and a sidewalk on the east side. A trail will also be constructed along sections of Stellhorn to make connections to shopping and restaurants.
This project is divided into two phases: Phase 1 is State to Trier which will be constructed in 2020, Phase 2 is Trier to Stellhorn and will be constructed in 2021. The trail along Stellhorn Rd is complete. Work continues on Phase 2 and is scheduled for completion in 2021.
Updated: August 2022
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Description: City will widen the roadway to five lanes where needed; where not needed a landscaped median will be placed. 10′ wide trail on NW side and sidewalk on opposite side. Projects funded with TIF. Project also includes trail on south side of Stellhorn from Maysville to Wheelock and sidewalk on west side of Maysville from Stellhorn south to Marathon Gas Station to tie in with existing sidewalk. This project has been completed.
Updated: October 2018
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: New Haven/Adams Township Parks and Recreation
Description: 10ft trail providing access between the New Haven Community Center and the Kady Gene Senior Housing complex. The trail will go north on Brookwood Dr. and then west on Brookdale Dr. to connect to the existing paths of the community center. The design is complete. The project was bid in May 2021. Construction should start in the early fall with completion by December 2022. Construction is complete
Updated: February 2023
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: Monroeville
Description: The Town of Monroeville constructed a half-mile trail loop in the Monroeville Community Park utilizing Indiana DNR Land & Water grant funds. This project was completed in 2019.
Updated: December 2019
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: This Project is Complete
Project Owner: Monroeville, NIRCC
Description: This trail will start at the trailhead within the former Conversation Club property, head east through the woods and across Flat Rock Creek onto town-owned property behind CME then north to Monroeville Road. Moving forward in the INDOT process. This project was bid and the bid was approved by INDOT and Monroeville. Construction is complete.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: This Project is Complete
Project Owner: Allen County Parks and Fort Wayne Trails Inc
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: Allen County Parks is working with Fort Wayne Trails to create a new trailhead of Payton County Park with a 1/2 mile loop from the trailhead to the Pufferbelly Trail. Construction and paving of the park loop is complete and Allen County Highway has resurfaced Dunton Road. Construction of a trail hub and additional park improvements will follow.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: PFW/Ivy Tech
Description: Pedestrian Bridge over Coliseum Blvd. to link Ivy Tech and Purdue Fort Wayne campuses, called the Parker Cole Crossing. This bridge connects to the Rivergreenway through the west side of the Ivy Tech parking lot to a mid-block crossing on Anthony. The bridge also connects to the Rivergreenway on the PFW campus through internal trails/sidewalks. The bridge is complete.
Updated: December 2021
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: This section of the Poka-Bache Connector was funded in part through a Regional Cities Initiative grant. Fort Wayne Trails advocated for this project and partnered with the City of Fort Wayne to apply for these funds. This project has been completed.
Updated: October 2018
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: This section of the Pufferbelly Trail was funded in part through a Regional Cities Initiative grant. Fort Wayne Trails advocated for this project and partnered with the City of Fort Wayne to apply for these funds. This project has been completed.
Updated: May 2018
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: Allen County, Allen County Parks, Huntertown, Fort Wayne Trails Inc.
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: Fort Wayne Trails is acting as a partner and project coordinator for Allen County trail projects, and has successfully advocated for county funding during 2018-2019. A 12′ wide trail on the old railroad corridor will connect Life Bridge Trailhead to Fitch Rd as part of The Poka-Bache Connector trail. Fort Wayne Trails is also partnering with the Allen County Parks Department to build a trail spur to the parking area of Payton County Park, and a trail hub rest area and gathering spot along this section of trail. Allen County Parks recently received DNR funds to build the 8′ spur into the center of the park and has hired contractors to complete the final design. The Governor has provided $3.3 million dollars for the construction of this project.
Design and Engineering is completed for the entire 4.3-mile stretch of trail. The trail will also include a new trailhead just north of Shoaff Rd and a turn-around loop and rest area at Fitch Rd.
Updated: November 2024
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: This section of the Pufferbelly Trail was funded in part through a Regional Cities Initiative grant. Fort Wayne Trails advocated for this project and partnered with the City of Fort Wayne to apply for these funds. This project has been completed.
Updated: November 2018
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: This section of the Pufferbelly Trail was funded in part through a $100,000 donation from Fort Wayne Trails, the City of Fort Wayne, and the Federal Government. This trail project has been completed.
Updated: May 2018
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne, FWT
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: Fort Wayne Trails identified the Six-Mile Creek Trail early on as an important project for our community, and began raising funds for it a decade ago. For this section, Fort Wayne Trails donated $100,000. Final landscaping and minor construction items are being completed, and the trail is now open to the public. This trail project has been completed.
Updated: October 2018
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Description: Walk Fort Wayne Project funded with TIF. 10′ wide asphalt trail that will run along the south side of St. Joe Center Road from the existing trail at Meijer Dr. to the sidewalk at Chiswell Run (entrance to Arlington Park). The trail will also extend south along the west side of Wheelock Road from St. Joe Center Road to south of Jefferson Middle School, where it will end at the existing pedestrian road crossing at Mill Ridge Run. Construction is was completed in late 2020.
Updated: January 2020
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Description: Road Widening and straightening project that will include a sidewalk, trail and the Pufferbelly Trail Bridge. 8′-10′ wide trail will run from the Pufferbelly Trail to the Rivergreenway on the south side of State. Trail is currently open from Clinton St. to Spy Run Ave. and the Rivergreenway. Phase 2, from Cass St. to Clinton St. will be constructed in 2019 and 2020. Construction has begun. Contractors will work on new retaining walls and the pedestrian bridge for the Pufferbelly Trail through summer, 2020. Trail along State Boulevard will follow, during the summer of 2020. This project was completed in the Fall of 2020.
Updated: January 2021
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: COMPLETE
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne, Redevelopment Commission
Description: Trail and sidewalk project funded with TIF. This project will connect neighborhoods with the existing bike and pedestrian infrastructure on Lima Road and Washington Center Rd.
This project is divided into four phases: Phase 1, sidewalk from North Oaks Mobile Home Park to the Grand Rapids-Indiana Railroad Corridor, is complete. Phase 1B, sidewalk from the railroad corridor to Lima Road, will be constructed in 2020. Phase 1C, a 10′ trail along the railroad corridor from Washington Center Road to Ludwig Road has just gone to bid, and will be constructed in 2019. Phase 1D includes trail along the south side of Ludwig Road from the railroad corridor to Lima Road, and will be constructed in 2021.
The Trail is complete from Washington Center to Ludwig Rd..
Secured DNR permit. Meijer is ready to sign easement. Consultant needs to secure ROW permit from INDOT for Lima Rd/ SR 3, then the project can be bid.
The project has been awarded to API. Preconstruction meeting has been held. Substantial completion is planned for 11/20/23 with final completion 5/18/24.
This project is complete
Updated: July 2024
Completed Phases:
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Project Owner: Allen County
Description: The County will replace the W Hamilton Rd. Bridge over the Beal-Taylor Ditch and extend the existing trail from the entrance to the Vera Cruz subdivision (Ridge Crest Crossing) to the new trail on SR 14. Utilities have been relocated and this trail project is now complete.
Updated: December 2018
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: This Project is Complete
Project Owner: Woodburn/ NIRCC
Description: 10 ft. trail on the north side of Woodburn Road from Becker Road west 1,380 feet to a mid-block crossing. The trail will replace an existing sidewalk that has a low ADA rating. The project was rebid and the bid was accepted by INDOT and Woodburn. Construction started in November 2022 and continued through December, it will resume in March 2023.
This project is complete.
Updated: February 2024