Mayor Tom Henry cuts the ribbon for the Renaissance Pointe trail in southeast Fort Wayne
New YMCA Will Be in the Heart of Renaissance Pointe Neighborhood
Mayor Tom Henry and YMCA CEO Martin Pastura joined police officers, neighborhood residents and YMCA supporters to bike, walk and roll along the new Renaissance Point Trail today. The Trail connects the site of the newly announced Renaissance Pointe YMCA to the neighborhood about six blocks away.
“Since our community is becoming more and more aware of fitness as well as fuel-saving options, we wanted to demonstrate how easy it is to get to where you want to go,” said Mayor Henry. He joined a group who participated in the ground blessing for the new YMCA and then took to the trail to parade over to the Renaissance Pointe neighborhood for a ribbon cutting on the new Trail in that neighborhood. The Mayor and two police officers lead the procession on their T3 Segway-style scooters while and Pastura and others rode bicycles while some walked from the site of the YMCA to the official destination at John and Hurd Streets.
“We look forward to meeting our neighbors and showing them the exciting new opportunities they'll have at the new YMCA,” said Pastura. “From childcare to fitness to community meetings, we are excited to be bringing a fabulous new facility to this area, which is undergoing an amazing transformation with the City's investment in the infrastructure and the developers' commitment to creating a front-porch neighborhood in the heart of the central city.”
The Mayor acknowledged the private investment, from homeowners who've taken part in the rehab programs for homes and pointed out the many well-kept yards and homes in the area, blending with the new construction to create a cohesive, comfortable neighborhood feel. “The City is pleased that the YMCA has chosen to collaborate with our vision for revitalizing an older part of the community, bringing high quality facilities and more opportunities to the families who call this neighborhood “home,” said Mayor Henry. “With strong connections like this trail leading to positive destinations like the YMCA, each development strengthens the other, and our residents benefit most of all.”
The City has made significant investment in the Renaissance Pointe neighborhood, primarily through infrastructure improvements in the last two years. In 2007, the City invested:
$1.5 million in storm/drainage improvements
$80,000 in improvements to John Street (model block area)
$450,000 in water/sanitary connections to Phase 1 lots
In 2008, City invested:
$2.1 million in other “dry side” Phase 1 improvements (sidewalks, street paving, alleys, signs, new Hurd Street, new trail)
Total investment to date by the City of Fort Wayne (in infrastructure only): approximately $4.1 million.