Where can you connect with nature in Fort Wayne?
Founded on the banks of the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers in 1794, Fort Wayne has always been based around waterways.
The shores that once housed one military fort, are now lined with thousands of residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
Despite its development, Fort Wayne’s three rivers remain accessible through an approximately 25-mile rivergreenway that connects with 15 parks.
Beyond the riverfront, the city also has nearly 75 other parks. It also has more than 135 miles of additional trails.
Learn more about Fort Wayne’s rivergreenway, parks, and trails here.
How is the city eco-friendly?
With three rivers, 89 parks, and more than 160 miles of trails comes the question: who is responsible for Fort Wayne’s ecosystems?
City (and county) government agencies assume that responsibility.
Fort Wayne City Utilities provides water, wastewater, and stormwater services to over 250,000 residents and businesses, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation manages the ground and facilities of the parks and trails, and the Allen County Department of Environmental Management brings awareness and action to environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability efforts.
With that responsibility, each agency has also earned its own fair recognition.
Fort Wayne City Utilities regularly receives awards up to the international level, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation accolades include being named a Tree City USA for 35 consecutive years (and counting), and the Allen County Department of Environmental Management amasses appreciation from local and state officials alike.
What can you do to support the local landscape?
Looking to support the local landscape?
Fort Wayne City Utilities, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, and the Allen County Department of Environmental Management are a start.
However, nonprofits are another way to assist with the city’s environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability efforts.
In Fort Wayne, there are multiple organizations with missions rooted in doing so…
Nonprofits
The Little River Wetlands Project works to rehabilitate and preserve wetlands in the historic watersheds associated with the Little River, which stretches through Allen and Huntington counties.
ACRES Land Trust’s efforts emphasize restoring and protecting natural and working lands in northeast Indiana as well as southern Michigan and northwest Ohio.
Individuals navigating nature also have Fort Wayne Trails, which advocates for a safe, accessible trail system in the city and its surrounding areas that improves quality of life and connects communities.
Similarly, Trees Indiana, the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, and the Fort Wayne Zoo all bring nature to you.
Trees Indiana is a Fort Wayne-based nonprofit that encourages community members to be environmental stewards by planting, maintaining, and promoting trees in urban spaces.
The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory serves as an oasis downtown, entertaining and educating people on botanics with a diverse display of plants.
The Fort Wayne Zoo’s 40-acres of land on the city’s northwest side connect community members to animals while teaching conservation through exhibits, educational programs, and more.
For an all-encompassing environmental organization, there is Eco Fest Fort Wayne, which focuses on raising awareness for sustainability through education, advocacy, and action.
Other Options
While their missions are not rooted in supporting the local landscape, each of the city’s colleges and universities - Purdue Fort Wayne, Ivy Tech, Indiana Tech, and University of Saint Francis - have environmental programs too. Purdue Fort Wayne also has an Environmental Resources Center.
More ways to support the local landscape include shopping at Fort Wayne's farmers markets and thrift stores, and being conscious of how you can “reduce, reuse, recycle” in your everyday life.
Where can you find nearby Earth Day events?
To find the latest on nearby Earth Day events, take a look at this calendar of events organized by EcoFest.
While Earth Day only comes once each year, Fort Wayne is always bringing awareness and action to environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability efforts.
Ask yourself this Earth Day, how you, too, can bring awareness and action to environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability efforts as you… visit Fort Wayne.
