Fort Wayne, Ind. – The City of Fort Wayne's Front Door Fort Wayne plan has earned a 2013 Outstanding Plan Award from the Indiana Chapter of the American Planning Association.
Front Door Fort Wayne: A Plan to Enhance Our City's Gateways is a comprehensive strategy for improving the appearance, efficiency and economic potential of the major points of entry into the City. Front Door Fort Wayne was developed by the City's Community Development Division with extensive citizen input from business and community leaders. The plan was adopted by Fort Wayne City Council last year.
"Image and first impressions are fundamentally important to a city's economic success," said Mayor Tom Henry. "New visitors form their first opinions of a community at its gateways, so maintaining these areas demonstrate that a community cares about and invests in itself."
"Many communities have limited plans that call for signage directing residents and visitors to places of interest," said John Urbahns, division director of Community Development. "Front Door Fort Wayne is a cohesive strategy to ensure all major City transportation corridors are welcoming and attractive. I congratulate our planning and policy staff for developing an outstanding plan that will have a long-term, positive impact on the City."
Front Door Fort Wayne includes recommendations for beautifying corridors by incorporating existing landmarks, new landmarks, public art, lighting, signs, bike paths, sidewalks, landscaping, and transit facilities. Installing "wayfinding" signs throughout the City to direct visitors to local attractions is part of the plan, as is the effort to beautify railroad overpasses.
The annual APA Indiana Chapter Hoosier Planning Awards honor excellence in plans, individuals, and organizations that have advanced the practice of planning. The awards were presented last week in Columbus, Ind. More information about the awards is available at http://www.indianaplanning.org/resources/awards/.
To view Front Door Fort Wayne, visit www.cityoffortwayne.org/frontdoorfortwayneplan.