City honored for environmental sustainability in riverfront plans

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne’s Parks and Recreation Department and Community Development Division were recently honored for their riverfront development plans.

Efforts taken for environmental sustainability were acknowledged with the Green Ribbon Award from the Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

The City released the following:

The City of Fort Wayne’s Parks and Recreation Department and Community Development Division in association with Jones Petrie Rafinski (JPR) has been selected for a Green Ribbon Award from the Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (INASLA). The entry was based on the Riverfront Phase IIA Plan (completed in 2023), a key connection between Headwaters Park and Promenade Park in Fort Wayne.

The award recognizes the project and firm’s commitment to innovative design solutions that address sustainability, biodiversity, resiliency and environmental accessibility.

Elements of the plan which transformed a former industrial site in Fort Wayne into a resilient, inclusive public space along the St. Marys River included:

Designing for Sustainability
Situated in a floodplain, the project incorporates bioswales, riparian buffers, and 23 newly planted trees to improve stormwater management, reduce heat impacts and enhance air quality.
These features not only mitigate flooding and pollution risks but also provide shade, cooling and measurable health benefits for the community.
Over the next 20 years these trees will sequester 4,541.68 pounds of carbon–the cumulative impact is equivalent to offsetting nearly 19,000 vehicle miles.
The project achieved a 31% net increase in biodiversity, introducing 39 native plant species that support pollinators and strengthen Indiana’s native seed economy.
Accessibility
Inclusivity was embedded in the design philosophy from the start, and community engagement shaped many of the accessible features.
Riverfront Phase IIA integrates a range of accessible features including tactile guide strips, contrasting color banding along walkways for the visually impaired, universally accessible tables and benches and an engaging sensory garden.
Educational signs and interactive green features help visitors understand how nature protects and supports their community.
By reconnecting neighborhoods to the riverfront, Riverfront Phase IIA bridges environmental and social gaps, empowering residents with safe and equitable access to green infrastructure.

“Riverfront Phase IIA is proof that landscape architecture can shape healthier, more resilient communities,” said Sydney King, a landscape architect at JPR. “We’re proud to be recognized by INASLA for our role in creating a more sustainable and equitable future.”

“It is encouraging to see the affirmation for the Riverfront Phase IIA Plan” said Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel. “Expanding access to our rivers helps us carry forward the vision of revitalizing Fort Wayne’s natural resources in a sustainable way, while creating even more opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy recreation in the heart of downtown. Superintendent of Park Planning, Development & Botanical Conservatory Stacy Haviland ASLA— ten-year veteran with the City—was key to the project’s success.”

“We’re pleased to receive recognition for the thoughtful and innovative design of Riverfront Fort Wayne Phase IIA,” said Jonathan Leist, Community Development director. “This part of Riverfront Fort Wayne is a great example of how beautiful, functional, well-designed public park spaces support and catalyze private investment, like the Riverfront at Promenade mixed-use building that is directly adjacent to the area.”

The award was presented at the 2025 INASLA Annual Conference Awards ceremony at Purdue University in early September.