Fort Wayne begins work on final Pufferbelly Trail portion
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Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker joined state and local officials Monday to break ground on the final, $3 million portion of the Pufferbelly Trail. The city said the 1.7-mile portion will provide connectivity to nearly 700 businesses, retail areas, restaurants and entertainment.
The project will run from Ice Way to Washington Center Road, and is designed to include a trail hub rest area, a pavilion, and a bike repair station, among other amenities.
The project is being funded with a $2.7 million Next Level Trails grant from the state and $300,000 in donor funds.
“Trails provide a great way for residents and visitors to enjoy all that Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana have to offer,” Tucker said in a news release. “I’m encouraged that we’re able to continue to grow our network through collaborations that are making a positive difference. The state of Indiana was a key partner in ensuring that this section of the Pufferbelly Trail was able to be constructed. The best days are ahead for our greenways and trails.”
The groundbreaking comes just weeks after the city announced the Vann Family Crossing pedestrian bridge over Coliseum Boulevard. The bridge will be part of the new section of the Pufferbelly Trail.
The new section of the trail is expected to be complete in the fall of 2026. Construction on the pedestrian bridge is slated to begin in 2026.
The Pufferbelly Trail is one segment of the 81-mile Poka-Bache Connector Trail that will ultimately connect Pokagon State Park in Angola to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton. That project is currently 60% complete, according to the city.
“Next Level Trails, which is Indiana’s largest-ever investment in trails, works to make connections both between and within communities. This extension of the Pufferbelly Trail demonstrates the power of those connections,” Indiana Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Bortner said. “With these 1.7 miles of new trail, we’re connecting more people to each other and their community.”