Communities that are growing and thriving have proactive local governments that have residents and service at the forefront of activities that are designed to make a lasting impact.
Recent accolades for Parks and Recreation, City Utilities, and the Fort Wayne Police Department are examples of how we’re committed to providing an enhanced quality of life for all.
Parks and Recreation in association with Design Workshop was selected for a President’s Award in the Illinois Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Awards Program. The entry was based on the 10-year Comprehensive Planning Project for Parks and Recreation and titled Blue-green Heritage: The Plan for Fort Wayne’s Parks, Burnham Awards for Planning and Analysis.
This entry recognized the wide variety of professional activities that lead to, guide or evaluate landscape architectural design. Comprehensive plans, master plans, feasibility studies and design guidelines and standards are example of submittals for this category.
The award was presented at the annual Illinois Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects ILASLA Awards ceremony last month.
Fort Wayne City Utilities’ innovative Microgrid and Floating Solar Panels system was honored with two awards in recent weeks.
Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) presented the utility with the Community Green Project of the Year Award during the Ideas Summit in early October at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne.
The Microgrid integrates solar panels, battery storage, and both methane and natural gas to power the city’s water treatment plant, sewer treatment plant, and wet-weather pump stations. Installing over 12,000 floating solar panels is one of the few such applications in the country, placing Fort Wayne as a leader in using innovative renewable energy technology.
Years of research by City Utilities led to this project, which makes the utility more resilient and cost-efficient. Floating solar panels can be installed closer together, generating about 15% more power than land-based systems. Once operational, the microgrid will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4,600 tons annually equivalent to the emissions from 1,161 gasoline-powered vehicles.
Also, City Utilities received the Utility of the Future Award for the Microgrid system, presented jointly by several national organizations, including the Water Environment Federation (WEF), National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), The Water Research Foundation, US Water Alliance, and the WaterReuse organization.
The Fort Wayne Police Department’s Hope and Recovery Team program has been selected as a mentor site by the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program’s First Responder Deflection Mentor Initiative.
This recognition highlights the Fort Wayne Police Department’s commitment to working on deflection and providing critical services in support of communities facing challenges due to substance use disorders and overdose.
“Public safety continues to be a top priority as my staff and I work with the FWPD and community organizations to help keep our city as safe as possible,” said Mayor Sharon Tucker. “The Hope and Recovery Team is a vital part of our collective efforts to assist individuals and families in need of care and services. Being in a position to receive national recognition and resources sends a strong message that Fort Wayne cares about its residents and is at the forefront of providing positive opportunities for recovery.”
“We are proud to support the Hope and Recovery Team, an initiative that reflects our commitment to community well-being. Focusing on deflection and mentorship empowers individuals in crisis to find the resources they need for recovery. This collaborative approach enhances public safety and fosters a compassionate response to those struggling in our community. Together, we can make a lasting difference,” said Police Chief Scott Caudill.