City of Fort Wayne

MAYOR HENRY HOSTS MAYOR’S NIGHT IN MAY 21st

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Mayor Tom Henry will host his second Mayor's Night In for 2012, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 21 at Citizens Square.

Fort Wayne residents are invited to schedule an appointment to meet with Mayor Henry, in his office on the 4th floor, to have an open dialogue about any concerns, comments, feedback or suggestions related to City government or services.

City residents may schedule their 10-minute block of time with Mayor Henry by calling 427-1111 before 10am on Friday, May 18th. Times are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

Residents who met with the Mayor during a previous Mayor's Night In or Mayor's Night Out event will be placed on a waiting list to give other citizens the opportunity to have their concerns heard.

"Mayor's Night In provides the citizens of Fort Wayne an excellent opportunity to meet with me and my staff, and to share their issues, concerns and ideas for improvement," Mayor Henry said. "Open dialogue with the citizens I serve is extremely important. Our combined vision of Fort Wayne is what continues to make our city a great place to live and work."

PEDAL PLAN, PATHS WIN PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

Bike Friendliness Puts Fort Wayne in National Spotlight

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Mayor Tom Henry revealed today that Fort Wayne has won a Bronze Award from the League of American Bicyclists for its forward-looking vision and accomplishments in making the community more bicycle friendly. The accolade enables the City to work with League experts as they perform self-assessments, draft action plans and gain access to other expert assistance.

"We're excited that the League of American Bicyclists has honored our work to make Fort Wayne more bicycle friendly," said Mayor Henry. "By tripling the size of our trail network in just six years and increasing active-transportation opportunities, we are strengthening the fabric of our community, making it easier to get around, reducing our dependence on cars and helping residents stay fit for life."

FORT WAYNE SEALS SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH TAIZHOU, CHINA

City puts focus on economic and educational exchanges with 4th Sister City

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Creating a unique economic and cultural bond, Mayor Tom Henry today officially finalized an agreement establishing a Sister City relationship between Fort Wayne and Taizhou, China. Mayor Henry was joined at the signing by Xue Shaoxian, Chairman of the Taizhou Municipal People's Congress; Tom Herr, President of Fort Wayne Sister Cities International (FWSCI) and a delegation from Taizhou.

The ceremony makes Taizhou Fort Wayne's fourth Sister City. The Summit City also enjoys similar affiliations with Takaoka, Japan; Plock, Poland; and Gera, Germany. While those longstanding relationships have emphasized cultural and educational exchanges, the partnership with Taizhou marks the first time that economic development is a primary focus.

"Our Sister City relationships are treasures that enrich Fort Wayne immeasurably. Each brings countless cultural, educational and civic opportunities," said Mayor Tom Henry. "As we celebrate our new bond with Taizhou, we highlight the important role of economic development in the Sister City connection. Taizhou offers the real potential for job creation, business growth and innovative exchanges beneficial to both communities. This is, indeed, an exciting addition to our Sister City program."

MAYOR’S RESTORATION FUNDING PROGRAM PAVES WAY FOR NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS

Streets, Trees Top List of City Needs to Benefit from Recaptured State Dollars

(project list attached at bottom)

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Underscoring his commitment to healthy neighborhoods and an economically vibrant Fort Wayne, Mayor Tom Henry today unveiled key elements of his Restoration Funding Program. The $5 million neighborhood enhancement dollars are part of the $8.5 million in taxes returned to the City by the State of Indiana following its recent fiscal errors.

These vital resources will be directed into two primary areas: 1) $3.5 million in transportation and related-infrastructure improvements; and 2) $1.5 million for the ash tree mitigation effort.

"Thanks to careful stewardship and conservative management, Fort Wayne has been able to deliver excellent services throughout difficult economic times. Nevertheless, the State's financial mistakes put further stress on local governments," observed Mayor Henry. "The Restoration Funding Program takes the funds withheld in error by the State, now rightfully returned, and puts them to work where they're needed most, right in our neighborhoods."

27 WAYS TO HAVE FUN AND SEE FORT WAYNE OFF THE BEATEN PATH

City Kicks off 3rd Series of Trek the Trail Rides

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Mayor Tom Henry is announcing the kick-off of the third season of Trek the Trails – a popular series of free community bike rides along 68 miles of trail network. Trek the Trails, which runs from May through September, features a series of 22 Tuesday evening rides, four Saturday rides and a stargazing bike ride in October.

"Our trails have become the crown jewel of our local active transportation network," Mayor Tom Henry said. "These rides give our residents an excellent opportunity to see Fort Wayne in a way they haven't seen it before. It also provides a unique opportunity to meet other trail users, take part in a fun activity with friends and family and stay fit."

Fort Wayne has an award-winning trail system that has grown from 20 to 68 miles in six years and has been popular with walkers, runners and cyclists throughout the city.