(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 – LIMA RD TO SHEARWATER RUN
FRANKE PARK ROAD AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS
LAKE AVE TRAIL – N COLISEUM BLVD TO REED 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 – WHEELOCK ROAD TO MAPLECREST ROAD
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Pre-Construction
Project Owner: Leo-Cedarville, Allen County, and Fort Wayne Trails Inc
Description: A 10′ wide trail on the east side of Amstutz Rd. will extend from Trading Post Rd. to Hosler Rd. This connects to the Leo Schools’ campuses. The northern section of this trail is a federally-funded project along with the widening of Amstutz Rd. Stage 1 drawings are complete. The southern section of the trail will need additional funding. Project was bid in December 2023. Construction is planned to begin after school is out in May 2024 and is planned to be finished before school resumes in August 2024.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Final Review
Project Owner: Leo-Cedarville, NewAllen Alliance, Fort Wayne Trails Inc
Description: A 10′ wide trail on the south side of Hosler Rd, will cross to the north side at St Rd. 1 to Grabill Bridge. A separate bridge upgrade will include a cantilevered trail addition on the north side of Grabill Bridge. This is part of the NewAllen Alliance Stellar Portfolio from 2019-2023. The preliminary design is complete and property acquisition is complete. This project is waiting for the final plans to be reviewed. Will be bid in 2024.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Final Review
Project Owner: Grabill, NewAllen Alliance, Fort Wayne Trails Inc, Allen County
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: Fort Wayne Trails is partnering with Grabill and the NewAllen Alliance. A 10′ wide trail on the north side of Grabill Rd. will be built from the western town limits to Henry St. This is a part of the NewAllen Alliance Stellar Portfolio from 2019-2023. DLZ has completed the feasibility study. This trail will connect to the existing trail on Grabill Rd and connections to the Riverside Gardens.
Right of way is complete. The project is waiting for the final plans to be reviewed. The project will be bid in 2024.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Final Review
Project Owner: Grabill, NewAllen Alliance, Fort Wayne Trails Inc
Description: Due to a NIPSCO substation trail users will be routed north on Henry St, east on North St and then north on Main St. There will be 6′-8′ sidewalks on Henry and North St with sharrows on the road for cyclists. There will be 5′ sidewalks and sharrows along Main St. to Grabill Park where the trail resumes to the Leo-Grabill Sports Complex. Sharrows will also continue along Main St. This is a complimentary project in the NewAllen Alliance Stellar Projects from 2019-2023.
The NIPSCO right of way will be used once they move the station and finish the transfer of property. There is no timeline on that currently. Waiting for the final plans to be reviewed and bidding is expected in 2024.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: On Hold
Project Owner: Allen County, NewAllen Alliance, Fort Wayne City Utilities, Fort Wayne Parks, Fort Wayne Trails Inc
Description: A 10′ wide trail will extend from the Leo-Grabill Sports Complex in Grabill to the north side of Haifley Ditch, along the railroad corridor to Springfield Center Rd. and continue on the west side of Roth Rd. to the entrance of Hurshtown Reservoir. This is a part of the NewAllen Alliance Stellar Portfolio from 2019-2023. Allen County is finalizing an agreement on who will lead the design and ROW acquisition for the project.
Plans are 75% complete. This product is on hold due to funding and right-of-way issues.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Final Review
Project Owner: Allen County, Fort Wayne Trails Inc, NewAllen Alliance, Allen Co. Parks
Description: Starting at the Metea Park North Trailhead on Hursh Road, this 10′ trail will continue on the south side from the trailhead to the AEP corridor, make a mid-block crossing and continue on the north side east to Halter Rd. where it will meet with portions of the trail being built by Leo-Cedarville. This is a complementary project with the NewAllen Alliance Stellar Portfolio from 2019-2023.
Waiting for the final plans to be reviewed and bidding is planned for 2024.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Right of Way Acquisition
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Trails Inc.
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: Fort Wayne Trails has donated $150,000 for Right-of-Way purchasing for this section of trail that will connect neighborhoods in Aboite Township west of Interstate 69, to destinations like Covington Plaza and Time Corners. This will be an 8′ or 10′ trail on the north side of the road, along with two crossings over the Durnell Drain and Flaugh Ditch. We will also be working with companies and individuals to create a trail hub rest area and gathering spot along the route. Acquisition of the final two parcels will occur in February 2024 with bidding to follow immediately after.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Construction
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne Public Works
Description: This extension and final piece of the southern sections of the Hanna Street Trail will be an 8′ concrete trail on the west side. It will complete the Hanna Street Trail from E Wallace St to Tillman Park.
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: We are actively raising funds for this trail as a part of our Connecting Four Capital Campaign. For more information please visit: https://fwtrails.org/connecting4/
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Fundraising
Project Owner: East Allen County Schools, Paul Harding Jr. High School, and Fort Wayne Trails Inc.
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: Fort Wayne Trails is assisting Paul Harding Jr. High School students and East Allen County Schools with fundraising, and planning for this project on the corner of Paulding Rd. and Wayne Trace. They are converting old baseball fields into a natural area, building a natural surface trail through their wooded area, and building a public, multi-use, paved trail on their property. They have all the permissions they need from the school, and the school corporation is tearing up the ball fields in spring/summer 2020. DNR is helping with the natural planting. They are currently getting bids to design the paved trail and have agreed that it can be a trailhead for the future Six-Mile Creek Trail (there is ample parking). The paved trail will be 8 feet wide, concrete, and will connect Paulding Road to Wayne Trace from Santa Anna Drive which has sidewalks into the neighborhood.
Teachers and volunteers have cleared and maintained a 3/4 mile natural surface trail through the woods. DNR helped seed the natural prairie, which was mowed in July. Preliminary designs are complete, including a trailhead.
East Allen County School is now going to build a multi-use, paved trail on their property on the corner of Paulding Rd. and Wayne Trace. The paved trail will be 8 feet wide. It will cross Wayne Trace at Southwick Elementary School, then continue north along Wayne Trace to the property line, then circle Prince Chapman Academy staying near the property line. The paved trail will connect to the natural surface trails at Paul Harding Jr High.
They have all preliminary permissions needed, though all final plans and bids will go to the EACS Board before construction.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: Preliminary Engineering
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: We are actively raising funds for this trail as a part of our Connecting Four Capital Campaign. For more information please visit: https://fwtrails.org/connecting4/
Description: This is phase 1 of a 2-phase project. This trail will be an extension of the Maplecrest Road Trail north to St. Joe Center Rd. 8-10ft wide trail will run along the north side of Stellhorn Road from the entrance of Northwood Plaza by Pizza Hut to the AEP transmission line by Eicher Drive. The trail will then run north along the AEP transmission line to the YMCA and St Joe Center Road. This project planned on using a service road that AEP had planned on building during their transmission project on this corridor. They have delayed the transmission project 2 years and will no longer be building a construction road. The project is delayed and construction costs have increased.
Utility coordination will occur soon. Location control route survey and right-of-way engineering will begin in early 2024 with completion by June. Met with the consultant to review 30% plans.
Fort Wayne Trails is assisting in raising funds for this project as part of our Connecting Four Capital Campaign. Please click HERE to learn more or support this project.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Restoration
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.
Paving is complete and restoration will be finalized in the spring of 2024
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases:
Current Phase: Right-of-way Acquisition
Project Owner: City of Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne Trails Inc.
Fort Wayne Trails Activities: The most important section of trail in our community’s history will soon be built. A critical 1.6 miles of the Pufferbelly Trail is needed in order to connect our trail system. Currently, there are approximately 85 miles of trails south of Coliseum Boulevard, and approximately 30 miles of trails north of Washington Center Road. Much like the “golden spike” that completed the transcontinental railroad and allowed the country to connect from east to west in the 19th century, our “golden spike section” will create a network of 115 miles of interconnected trails. At its completion, all but 10 miles of our county-wide system will be interconnected. Fort Wayne Trails is fundraising for the local matching dollars needed for this project. The City of Fort Wayne will build this connecting section of trail between Washington Center Road and the Glenbrook Shopping area. The project will include a crossing at Coliseum Boulevard and a sidewalk to Glenbrook Square.
The City of Fort Wayne has received a $2.7 million dollar Next Level Trails grant for this project. Currently working on the right of way and appraisals. Pursuing condemnation with two final parcels, finalizing landscaping, amenities, and trail hub design. Project is planned to be bid in March 2024.
Updated: February 2024
Completed Phases: 
Current Phase: Funding
Project Owner: Allen County, 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 for engineering. Parkview has donated funding for this project as well. This will be a 10′ trail on the north side of Union Chapel Road, from the existing trail west of Auburn Road to the Life Bridge Church Trailhead and Pufferbelly Trail, just west of Corbin Road. Engineering studies have been completed. Parkview has donated $90,000 to help with trail construction. The design is being reviewed due to conversations with NWACS, their parcel is the only remaining.
This project may be split into phases.
Updated: February 2024