The 2024 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program (the “Program”) has been revised to expand and enhance engagement, equities, and outcomes for participating neighborhood associations (each, an “Association”). Revisions to the Program include:

The Program is designed to energize and improve the City’s neighborhoods by inviting eligible Associations to apply for a neighborhood improvement grant (each, a “Program Grant”) in the maximum amount of $5,000 to fund a Project located in the Association’s neighborhood (“Neighborhood”). In order to be considered for a Program Grant, the Project must fit within one (1) of the following categories: (1) Placemaking, (2) Transit Oriented Improvements, (3) Landscaping, and (4) Neighborhood Identification/Branding. Routine maintenance projects are not eligible for Program Grant funding.

The award of a program grant is conditioned upon the review, unconditional approval, and, if applicable, permitting of the project by all municipal departments and divisions and private sector entities having jurisdiction over the project. For example, a public art project must be reviewed and approved by the public art commission, a transportation improvement project must be reviewed and approved by the department of public works, and a transit-related project requires an agreement between the association and citilink.

Mayor Sharon Tucker and the City of Fort Wayne’s Neighborhood Planning and Activation Workgroup announced May 6th that 46 neighborhood improvement grant projects are being awarded, totaling more than $200,000. These projects range from new landscaping in common areas to replacing neighborhood signage.

The announcement was held in the Hearthstone Neighborhood on Wallen Road.. Hearthstone is using their grant to install an outside community bulletin board to share neighborhood updates with residents, in addition to minor improvements to their common and recreation area. Representatives from Hearthstone were at the announcement to celebrate the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program.

The program, overseen by the City’s Community Development Division, is designed to support neighborhood beautification efforts and strengthen neighborhood involvement. Each yearneighborhoods are asked to incorporate additional community engagement in the grant application process to showcase how their projects are resident-led and resident-serving.

The projects selected will enhance neighborhood aesthetics, provide a clear community benefit, be accessible to all neighborhood residents, and increase civic pride. Expenses such as routine maintenance, major infrastructure projects, social events, or operating expenses were not eligible for grant funds.

"We are incredibly fortunate in Fort Wayne to have such exceptional neighborhoods, whose ongoing efforts are dedicated to creating, preserving, and enriching vibrant amenities for the enjoyment of individuals and families," expressed Mayor Sharon Tucker. "Our Neighborhood Improvement Grant program exemplifies the spirit of partnership between residents and local government, ensuring that we collectively strive to make our city the best it can be."

Each proposal was evaluated and scored based on grant criteria and available funding. The list below is the initial grant recipients, along with a short description of their proposed projects, which still require all necessary permits and approvals:

Becketts Run – Trail improvements in the neighborhood common area

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Bloomingdale – Install informational signs throughout the neighborhood which aim to commemorate significant historical sites

· Grant amount: $4,020.00

Brierwood Hills – Improve the neighborhood entrance with landscaping enhancements, electrical improvements, and cleaning the existing limestone pillars

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Broad River – Develop a parklet in a vacant lot on Scott Avenue in the northern portion of the neighborhood that does not have ample greenspace.

· Grant amount: $4,993.82

Concordia Gardens – Continue making improvements to the common area, including the addition of benches

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Continental Park – Add neighborhood signage, including an LED flashing stop sign for neighborhood safety

· Grant amount: $4,145.60

Covington Pines – Add new trees along the neighborhood border to improve existing landscaping

· Grant amount: $4,966.25

East Central – Install new neighborhood signage using the recently developed brand identity through the FORTify Neighborhood Accelerator program

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Eastland Gardens Community – Improvements to the front entrance of the neighborhood

· Grant amount: $4,317.99

Fairfield – New wayfinding signage and children at play signs to enhance neighborhood traffic calming

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Forest Park Boulevard – Improvements to the boulevard with additional tree planting, median re-seeding, and landscaping

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Forest Ridge Estates – Enhance the neighborhood entrance with repair of the existing signage and improved landscaping

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Hamilton – A neighborhood mural commemorating the rich history of the neighborhood on the wall of a local business

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Hamlets West of Woodland Ridge East – Repair the existing entrance signage, in addition to landscaping improvements

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Harrison Hill – Improving neighborhood landscaping by planting perennial patches with native plants, in addition to adding signage and a bench

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Hearthstone Village – Install an outdoor community bulletin board to share neighborhood messages with residents, and make small improvements to the neighborhood common space

· Grant amount: $4,902.00

Historic Foster Park – Improve the landscaping in the park strip located on Sheridan Court

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Historic Oakdale – Celebrate and commemorate the historic identity of the neighborhood with the installation of new sidewalk plaques at a few of the neighborhood's historic homes

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Historic Southwood Park – Continue an effort to improve the overall tree canopy throughout the neighborhood by installing new street trees

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Imperial Swathmore – Enhance the landscaping at neighborhood entrances, in addition to adding new picnic tables in the common areas

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

LaRez – Neighborhood traffic calming improvements, including the addition of a radar speed sign to alert drivers when they need to slow down

· Grant amount: $3,600.00

Lincoln Village – Improving the neighborhood common area with the addition of new benches

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Manor Park – Adding a new play structure in the common area to serve the children of the neighborhood by providing ample space to play

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Mill Creek Villas – Remove existing invasive trees in the neighborhood and replace these with native/non-invasive plants, in addition to replacing lighting near the neighborhood monument sign

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Nebraska – Install a unique community history sharing project which will include photos and stories of long-time neighborhood residents. The project will be a physical art installment at the neighborhood owned Wayne Knitting Mills Park on Boone Street

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

New Glenwood Park – Improve the neighborhood entrance with a new entrance sign and landscaping

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

North Highlands – Add new concrete pads and benches at bus stops in the neighborhood, while adding new salt barrels so residents can help keep sidewalks safe in the winter

· Grant amount: $3,800.00

Northside – Improve the aesthetic of the business corridor in East State Village with the addition of new planters

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Pettit-Rudisill – Establish a new community garden to help serve the neighborhood

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Pine Valley – Repair walkway lighting for a section of the common area in the neighborhood which currently has little to no lighting

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Seven Oaks – Add new picnic tables to the neighborhood common area

· Grant amount: $4,750.00

Shannonside – Install new mulching and borders at the recently installed swing sets to ensure that people can safely use them

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Shores of Rock Creek – Enhance the neighborhood entrance with new signage

· Grant amount: $4,968.00

Springfield – Install a new outdoor community message board to share neighborhood messages with residents

· Grant amount: $2,448.49

Stonefield Community – Install new light poles and sign posts with solar-powered lighting in areas near the neighborhood entrance

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

The Fountain – Install a new neighborhood fountain at the entrance

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

The Shores of Coventry – Replace or repair several lights in the neighborhood common area to improve safety

· Grant amount: $4,968.00

Trier Ridge Park – Enhance the neighborhood entrance with improved landscaping

· Grant amount: $4,190.87

Village Woods – Improve the neighborhood entrance signage and landscaping

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Villas of LaCabreah – Restore the stones and lawn along the common area pond

· Grant amount: $4,500.00

Wedgewood Place – Add new play equipment, including a new painted hop-scotch area in the common area to increase recreational activity for children

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Westchester Glens – Improved landscaping and tree canopy in the neighborhood, including the area between the front entrance ponds

· Grant amount: $5,000.00

Wheatridge – Common area improvement, including the removal of tree stumps, and planting new native plants and trees

· Grant amount: $4,700.00

Williams Woodland Park – Installing a new artistic crosswalk with the City’s painted pavement program

· Grant amount: $1,316.00

Woodhurst – Continue installing new neighborhood signage throughout

· Grant amount: $4,817.00

Woodland Lake – Improving recreational opportunities for the neighborhood with the addition of a playset in the common area

· Grant amount: $5,000.00