City announces $5 million toward Pufferbelly Bridge over Coliseum

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – On Thursday, Mayor Sharon Tucker announced that a $5 million gift has been given to the City of Fort Wayne to assist in the funding of a future bridge crossing over Coliseum Boulevard that is planned to be constructed as part of the Pufferbelly Trail.

The Vann Family Foundation provided the funds for the planned connection. Jim Vann was a former shareholder and chairperson of Rea Magnet Wire in Fort Wayne and has been an instrumental leader and community supporter over the years.

The City released the following:

“My wife, Lee, loved the trails system in Fort Wayne,” said Jim Vann. “The bridge is our way of saying thank you to the late Mayor Tom Henry and Mayor Tucker, to all Rea employees, and to our citizens for creating such a special place to live and work. We are proud to call Fort Wayne our home.”

“The kind and generous gift being provided by Mr. Vann and his family is a true testament to thinking of others first and giving back for the betterment of a community,” said Mayor Tucker. “Our trails and greenways provide residents and visitors with a quality-of-life amenity that makes Fort Wayne stronger and more vibrant. This effort will leave a legacy that won’t be forgotten.”

The bridge will cross Coliseum Boulevard on the west side of Bob Thomas Ford (north side) and Mission BBQ (south side). This is nearly the exact same spot that the New York Central Railroad Corridor crossed Coliseum Boulevard years ago. The Vann Family Crossing over Coliseum Boulevard/State Road 930 will provide a safe and aesthetic crossing of one of the busiest roads in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana. The daily traffic count is 37,575 vehicles per day.

Additional funds will need to be generated to enable the bridge crossing to be completed. A projected timeline includes the bridge crossing being bid in 2025 with construction in 2026 pending all necessary approvals. Partners with the City include the Indiana Department of Transportation, Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council, Engineering Resources Inc., and Fort Wayne Trails.

In addition to the bridge donation, work will begin in August on the next phase of the Pufferbelly Trail from Ice Way to Washington Center Road. The $3.157 million investment will include a 1.8-mile extension of trail that is expected to be finished in the fall of 2025. The trail and bridge will connect 130 miles of existing trails in the greater Fort Wayne area. The Pufferbelly Trail is one segment of the 81-mile Poka-Bache Connector trail from Pokagon State Park in Angola to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton, which is 60% complete/funded.

Fort Wayne Trails released the following on Thursday:

This morning, Mayor Sharon Tucker, alongside Fort Wayne Trails Executive Director Kent Castleman, announced a $5M gift from the Vann Family Foundation to assist in funding a new pedestrian bridge over Coliseum Blvd. for the Pufferbelly Trail. The bridge will be known as the Vann Family Crossing.

Jim Vann was a former shareholder and chairperson of Rea Magnet Wire in Fort Wayne and has been an instrumental leader and community supporter over the years.

“My wife, Lee, loved the trails system in Fort Wayne,” said Jim Vann. “The bridge is our way of saying thank you to the late Mayor Tom Henry and Mayor Tucker, to all Rea employees, and to our citizens for creating such a special place to live and work. We are proud to call Fort Wayne our home.”

Fort Wayne Trails staff, along with city staff, worked with family representatives to make this gift a reality. James Holm, Director of Community Engagement, created a video presentation showcasing the importance of this bridge and its impact on not only Fort Wayne, but the regional trail system through the Poka-Bache Connector. The Pufferbelly is a segment of the 81-mile visionary trail being developed across four counties. To view the presentation video from November 2023, click here.

“One of the goals of this important bridge project is to make our trails more useable as public transportation. This bridge will allow for a safe and speedy crossing over Coliseum Blvd. helping trail users to reach downtown Fort Wayne and its many destinations. Eliminating the barrier of Coliseum Blvd. for casual users as well as daily commuters is a generational move for the growth of the system.” commented Castleman. This bridge, which is a part of the section of the Pufferbelly Trail known as the Golden Spike, will connect 85 miles south of Coliseum Blvd. with 35 Miles north to create a 120 mile connected network in Allen County.

In a letter explaining the reasons for their family’s gift, Jim added, “with Rea and through the Vann Family Foundation, a steady stream of donations and strong company volunteerism was sustained in the community. The initial contribution to the Aboite Trails was through the Vann Family Foundation in 2002. The Vann Family Crossing really represents the pinnacle of our thanks to Mayor Henry, Mayor Tucker, the citizens of Fort Wayne, and the generations of Rea Magnet Wire employees. Fort Wayne Trails was one of Lee’s real passions, and we feel truly lucky…. again… to be part of building Fort Wayne’s incredible future.”

The Vann children stated that their parents’ story is just one of many, and what makes Fort Wayne so unique. They have been part of a generational “core of giving” that has been truly inspirational. Fortunately for all of us, our community’s culture of “doing good for others” is as strong as ever and will continue to be the foundation for our City’s future prosperity.“The kind and generous gift being provided by Mr. Vann and his family is a true testament to thinking of others first and giving back for the betterment of a community,” said Mayor Tucker. “Our trails and greenways provide residents and visitors with a quality-of-life amenity that makes Fort Wayne stronger and more vibrant. This effort will leave a legacy that won’t be forgotten.”