Fort Wayne Trails campaign

FORT WAYNE, Ind (WANE) - In celebration of 68 trail miles and with hopes to expand, Fort Wayne Trails started the Countdown to Connectivity campaign in May.  It's a way to link isolated areas with trails for walking, biking and more.  

According to Lori Keys, the Executive Director at Fort Wayne Trails, there has been a steady increase in the number of people using established trails.  From June 2011 to June 2012 "there was a big jump, with over 30% more visitors", and counters measured "50,000 people on bike or foot in the month of March alone." 

The staff and board have four proposed trails that add or increase a trail system in Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest areas of Allen County.  Check out the current and proposed trails online at FWTrails.org or pick up a printed trail map at the following locations:

• YMCA branches
• Allen County Public Library branches
• Fort Wayne Trails office, 300 East Main Street 

Fort Wayne Trails has located five million dollars in funding from local and federal sources to see these proposed trails become reality.  But there is a little bit of a catch.  In order to unlock the five million in funds, Fort Wayne Trails must raise one million by the end of 2013.  From now through that time, every one dollar raised will become $6. 

Those who wish to donate to the Countdown to Connectivity campaign can do so online or by enclosing a gift in the specially marked envelope found in the printed 2012 Trail Guide.  For more information call 260-969-0079.