Fort Wayne’s reputation as a caring and giving community was evident earlier this month as Mayor Sharon Tucker announced that a $5 million gift has been given to the City of Fort Wayne to assist in the funding of a future bridge crossing over Coliseum Boulevard that is planned to be constructed as part of the Pufferbelly Trail.
The Vann Family Foundation provided the funds for the planned connection. Jim Vann was a former shareholder and chairperson of Rea Magnet Wire in Fort Wayne and has been an instrumental leader and community supporter over the years.
The bridge will cross Coliseum Boulevard on the west side of Bob Thomas Ford (north side) and Mission BBQ (south side). This is nearly the exact same spot that the New York Central Railroad Corridor crossed Coliseum Boulevard years ago. The Vann Family Crossing over Coliseum Boulevard/State Road 930 will provide a safe and aesthetic crossing of one of the busiest roads in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana. The daily traffic count is 37,575 vehicles per day.
Additional funds will need to be generated to enable the bridge crossing to be completed. A projected timeline includes the bridge crossing being bid in 2025 with construction in 2026 pending all necessary approvals. Partners with the City include the Indiana Department of Transportation, Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council, Engineering Resources Inc., and Fort Wayne Trails.
“My wife, Lee, loved the trails system in Fort Wayne,” said Jim Vann. “The bridge is our way of saying thank you to the late Mayor Tom Henry and Mayor Tucker, to all Rea employees, and to our citizens for creating such a special place to live and work. We are proud to call Fort Wayne our home.”
The kind and generous gift being provided by Mr. Vann and his family is a true testament to thinking of others first and giving back for the betterment of a community. Our trails and greenways provide residents and visitors with a quality-of-life amenity that makes Fort Wayne stronger and more vibrant. This effort will leave a legacy that won’t be forgotten.
In addition to the bridge donation, work will begin in August on the next phase of the Pufferbelly Trail from Ice Way to Washington Center Road. The $3.1 million investment will include a 1.8-mile extension of trail that is expected to be finished in the fall of 2025. The trail and bridge will connect 130 miles of existing trails in the greater Fort Wayne area. The Pufferbelly Trail is one segment of the 81-mile Poka-Bache Connector trail from Pokagon State Park in Angola to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton, which is 60% complete/funded.