Hello Neighbors!
It’s another grand day in the ol’ West End Neighborhood.
So while I wasn’t at the July membership meeting due to work commitments (yes I work!), I heard our VP, Kelly, did a masterful job of running it in my absence. It takes a team and we have a great one. I know summers are full of tempting alternatives to association meetings, so a big thanks to all who attended. You can view the slides from that meeting here.
Many of you have expressed frustration to your board members about the excessive speeding, drag racing, and noise on our streets, particularly the thoroughfares like Jefferson, Washington, and Main Street. More recently, Van Buren can be added to the list with the opening of the Elex and the added employee counts at Electric Works.
I just want you to know that the WCNA is very aware of the problems and working multiple fronts to try and mitigate it. So that this doesn’t get too long, I’ll highlight just a few of the efforts:
- We are working closely with the City of Fort Wayne to add “traffic calming” features throughout the neighborhood. You can see a great example of this at the newly renovated intersection of West Washington and College where curb bump outs were added. These simple features go a long way in changing the appearance of a veritable raceway to a neighborhood street. In some locations, they effectively deter cars from using the empty parking spots as an extra – and dangerous – passing lane. Any time we hear of a new project in the neighborhood, like the eventual total resurfacing of West Jefferson, we are actively lobbying for these types of improvements.
- While it may not seem related, our investments in and promotion of public art in West Central are proven strategies for slowing down traffic. These installs help create a sense of place and draw your attention, which has a natural calming effect. Examples include the Amaryllis sculpture at the west gateway entrance to the neighborhood, the art-wrapped stainless steel traffic boxes, and the new mural that will go in on Broadway.
- Similar to art, our annual Tree Program and those investments also provide a proven calming effect. Each year the WCNA pays for 50-100 new trees in the neighborhood to try and provide shade, an aesthetically pleasing view, and create a canopy over the streets that can help slow down traffic.
- As part of the Connected Neighborhoods grant program, where West Central, in partnership with four other neighborhoods, won $1 million in “connection” improvements, you’ll soon see some improved crossings at crucial intersections. Stay tuned for details on that!
- The board just recently approved expenditures for yard signs that will remind drivers that this is a neighborhood where people live, work, go to school, walk, and bike. Some of you may recall an initiative a while back by Parkview Health called “Kids dart, drive smart”. It’s something like that. We’re still working on the final text and design, but should have them available soon.
- On a more grassroots level, a group of neighbors is forming a phone tree to ensure dangerous speeding and drag racing are being reported to police. The idea isn’t to overwhelm the non-emergency line, but to make sure the police are aware. It’s very easy to assume someone else is handling it when in reality no one is. This will also allow us to track more quantitative data on how often there are problems that create danger for our neighbors.
Again, this isn’t everything that’s happening, but highlights just some of our efforts. If you have additional ideas or want to help don’t be shy and let us know.
Every effort of the WCNA is powered by volunteers so we’re always looking for additional hands.
Hope to see you on the front porch real soon!
Joel Sauer, President
(260) 433-3672
2026 Board Officers
- Membership: Anita Kuker membership@westcentralneighborhood.org
- President: Joel Sauer president@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Secretary: Bethany Pruitt secretary@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Treasurer: Chris Todd treasurer@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Vice President: Kelly Benton VP@westcentralneighborhood.org