Benefits of Planned Trails 

Access: Provides users with a safe, scenic form of recreation and alternative transportation, connecting northwest neighborhoods, parks, and businesses such as the Dupont Library, Parkview YMCA and Saloman Farm park. 

Recreation: Provides walking, running, skating, cross-country skiing, bicycling, and in some areas equestrian useΓÇöallowing people the opportunity to enjoy nature in a park like setting. 

Safe: Based on best practices studied from other greenway systems, police and volunteer Greenway ΓÇ£RangersΓÇ¥ will regularly watch and patrol the pathway.  Usage will be restricted to non-motorized use from dawn-to-dusk, and the trails will be designed using proven crime prevention methods. 

Health and Fitness: A safe pathway for self-directed recreational activities improving quality of life.  ΓÇ£The real secret to fitness is to live in an environment (including pathways) that encourages it.ΓÇ¥  (Recent Newsweek article). 

Economic: Help keep Fort Wayne economically competitive as a destination for business and tourismΓÇöattracting growth and expandability.  Federal funds are available to pay for up to 80% of the costs involved in creating these parkways.  These funds are specifically marked for alternative transportation.  The remainder of the funds will be acquired through local grants and donations from businesses and residents.  We are looking to ensure Fort Wayne gets its share of the Federal money that is available as an investment into the health and livelihood of our citizens. 

Area Studies: Fort WayneΓÇÖs Rivergreenway system was studied by Indiana UniversityΓÇÖs Eppley Institute in 2000, which found strong rates of usership and positive impacts on property values.  75% of trail neighbors and 40% of the overall population had used the trail within the past year.  93% of trail neighbors surveyed also stated that the trail had either increased or had no effect on their property values.  The Monon trail in Indianapolis (which is built along an abandoned railroad corridor) was used by more people than attended all of the home games of the Pacers, Colts, Indians, and Ice combined.  Indy has also experienced an eight to ten percent increase in property value along their greenways and has also experienced minimal crime and vandalism.  Designers believe and studies show that the more users there are, the more eyes and ears there are to observe pathway activityΓÇöuse prevents abuse.