Our love letter to Fort Wayne’s neighborhoods

With more than 450 neighborhoods, Fort Wayne more than earns its unofficial title, “City of Neighborhoods.” And behind that long list of named neighborhoods, there’s a lot to love.

To me, Fort Wayne is not just a dot on a map, a skyline, or a meeting of three rivers. 

When I think about Fort Wayne, I think of the old, beautiful homes that line the streets of neighborhoods like Forest Park and Williams-Woodland Park. I think of the trees in Historic Southwood Park. I think of the trails looping around Solomon Farm Park and through the adjoining neighborhoods. I think of the parks in neighborhoods like Fairfield, Harvester and La Rez. I think about the art welcoming people to West Central and the Downtown District. These landscapes and streetscapes each offer something both unique and connective; each is an experience and an atmosphere all its own while also being part of a large, diverse city.

When I think about Fort Wayne, I think of the local businesses I love, like Bravas, nestled in the Oakdale Neighborhood, or Sunbound Books and Firefly Coffee House situated between the Northside, Beacon Woods, and North Anthony neighborhoods. These small businesses and others like them build on the blueprints of eras long past while also forging new, vibrant futures for their neighborhoods. They’re anchors, places to belong, and markers of a particular place within our city.

What I love most, though, is not places or settings above – it’s the people within them. The neighbors.

The neighbors of Fort Wayne are the type to show up and put in the work for one another. They create networks, dream up events, and embrace mutual aid like second nature. They solve problems. 

Look at grassroots organizations like Nourishing Neighbors organizing free meal giveaways or Street Reach for the Homeless gathering coats, tents and blankets to pass out. I see it in resident-led efforts like the Forward Indiana food pantries, which were started by a neighbor and continue to be stocked by neighbors. I see it in Fuerza Unida’s outreach, educational programming, and advocacy efforts. I see it in networks like Neighborlink, helping neighbors mow a lawn, install a wheelchair ramp, or fix their plumbing.

As a journalist and a resident, I’ve had the joy of watching neighbors step up to care for one another. Across hundreds of neighborhoods of varying sizes, circumstances, and, yes, architectural styles, that’s the common thread: neighbors looking out for neighbors. Knowing Fort Wayne is home to so many people who are doing what they can to make their corner of the world better makes me love this place even more. 

And that spirit is more critical than ever. We’ve seen and experienced a lot of hardship across the country recently. But we’ve also watched how people show up: organizing in their communities, protecting schoolkids and seniors alike, making sure families are safe and fed. When it feels like national policy is not helping, or is actively harming, it turns out that our neighbors are our haven, our ears to the ground, our safety net — and we are theirs. 

That’s why Input Fort Wayne is declaring 2026 to be The Year of the Neighborhood. 

We’re going to dedicate coverage to Fort Wayne’s mosaic of neighborhoods in a new, intentional way. We want our reporting to spark inspiration, introduce you to neighborhood leaders, spotlight progress, and show how things actually get done at the hyperlocal level. 

And we want our reporting to explore how neighbors are the backbone of a community. In the city of neighborhoods, solutions start small. 

And, well, we love that.

Right now, we’re planning, researching, and listening. (Click here to take our survey about the kind of coverage you’d like to see.) And because we’re a small publication powered by community support, yes, we’ll be fundraising. So stay tuned for much more on the Year of the Neighborhood. We can’t wait to tell these stories with you.

With love,

Brittany Lantz, Input Fort Wayne Editor