How do we continue to innovate, develop, and deliver major infrastructure, large-scale projects, events/festivals, and tourism operations/services that deliver a high-quality and cultural experience for residents and visitors, including the necessary support to realize these visions?
ACTIVE
Goal: Transform Fort Wayne/Allen County into a globally recognized premier accessible destination.
Points of Progress
Built Destination Accessible Taskforce (16 members) who are identifying, alongside Visit Fort Wayne, a consultant to guide an assessment of Fort Wayne/Allen County’s accessibility and building a community action plan to improve our destination’s accessibility.
December 2024
Researching potential organizations and providers who have capabilities in leading a community-wide assessment that assesses current infrastructure/policies/services, identifies areas of improvement, and builds an action plan for improving accessibility and universal design in Fort Wayne/Allen County.
Organizing meetings with the Fort Wayne/Allen County Disability Advisory Council and the Northeast Indiana Disability Advocacy Coalition to learn about missions and focus and discuss where the Tourism Master Plan can advocate and help move forward Fort Wayne and Allen County’s accessibility – fill any gaps related to the visitor economy.
Collaborating with The League and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community on recommendations for restaurants on how they can include the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in their facilities better.
Turnstone continues to host adaptive events and rentals as well as training events for community partners, including airline gate agents.
Citilink continues to improve the accessibility of transportation with their new Universal Design bus shelter at Turnstone, with two more sets to be installed in the community.
AWS Foundation continues to help educate the community and created seven videos offering education on the basic principles of Universal Design for events.
Goal: By 2030, Fort Wayne aims to become recognized for its music economy in the United States, known for its vibrant and diverse music scene, exceptional music infrastructure, and support for local talent.
Points of Progress
Fundraising for a Music Economy assessment and strategy consultant.
Goal: Continue to see this plan through as a road map to developing places.
Goal: Position Fort Wayne / Allen County as a leading destination for travel and tourism by addressing the current hospitality industry labor shortage and establishing a robust, highly skilled workforce that delivers exceptional experiences to visitors and residents.
Points of Progress
Finalizing survey for hospitality managers and employees to launch in Q1 2025
FUTURE
Goal: Attract a prominent family resort or attraction product to Allen County, Indiana, to continue to establish Fort Wayne / Allen County as a premier destination for family vacations
Points of Progress
We are excited to welcome more family-focused attractions and developments including Ducky’s at The Pearl, Pinhouse Social at The Fairfield, and Parkview Field’s Holiday Lights walk-thru display.
Goal: Create a dynamic and vibrant nightlife destination in Fort Wayne / Allen County that attracts both residents and visitors, offering a diverse and accessible range of entertainment options, fostering a thriving local arts and music scene, and promoting a safe and inclusive environment.
Goal: Transform Fort Wayne / Allen County into a premier accessible winter destination by creating engaging and memorable winter experiences for residents and visitors.
Goal: Support and recognize the need for expanding transportation (public and private) opportunities and access across our community for the benefit of residents and service for visitors, including transportation options to Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), by supporting local, state, and federal legislative enhancements and funding initiatives for transportation.
Points of Progress
Visit Fort Wayne continues to work with Citilink to communicate transportation and accessibility offerings to visitors
Citilink continues efforts to add mobile validators to buses and replace bus stop signs with QR codes linking to route updates and digital bus ticket purchases.
Citilink also received $10,987,062 (via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to buy approximately 12 “electric-hybrid” buses and replace diesel-fueled buses within its fleet.
The Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail also continues efforts to restore passenger rail service from Chicago to Fort Wayne and on to Columbus and Pittsburgh.
