Maysville Road Prairie Plantings - Saint Joseph Township
Go to Maplecrest Road widening from two-lane to landscaped four-lanes photo.
May 30, 2019 was the ribbon cutting ceremony for the prairie plantings along the four lane Maysville Road which was mostly farmland 25 years ago with a two-lane country road.
Current Street View photo from Google Maps shows prarie plantings were growing by July 2019 of Maysville Road east of I-469. Both sides from Stellhorn Road to entrances to Meijer and Walmart have similar mostly native plants. Many have self-seeded since plantings many years ago. The area was four-lanes as far back as July 2011 the first Street View photos.
May 15, 2024 photo shows massive Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) plantings on the north side of Maysville Road looking towards the Meijer entrance.
Street View from Google Maps is quite striking showing the changes over time. September 2017 shows trees before prairie plantings, May 2018 is during landscaping, July 2019 is early plantings, May 2023 is first captured bloomings, much less blooming than the 2024 view above.
May 15, 2024 photo shows massive Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) plantings with blue flowers of false blue indigo (Baptisia australis) on the north side of Maysville Road.
May 15, 2024 photo shows white flowers of Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) behind prairie dropseed grass on the north side of Maysville Road.
May 15, 2024 photo shows white flowers of non-native Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata) on the north side of Maysville Road. There is evidence it may become a future invasive tree similar to Callery pear?
May 30, 2019 - Mayor Tom Henry, members of the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission, staff members from Public Works and City Utilities, joined businesses and residents to cut the ribbon and celebrate the completion of the comprehensive infrastructure improvement of Maysville Road between Meijer Drive and Stellhorn Road.
The group gathered near the new trail in front of the Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, where the addition of a turn-lane is a welcome sight. [ Blooming plant photos in 2024 were taken from this church parking lot ]
“Making investments in our local transportation system continues to be a top priority,” said Mayor Henry. “The infrastructure improvements that have been made along Maysville Road enhance Fort Wayne’s position as a leader in job growth, economic development opportunities, providing excellent quality of life amenities, and strengthening neighborhoods with multiple connectivity options for various forms of transportation.”
Maysville Road was mostly farmland 25 years ago. Upon the completion of Interstate 469, in 1995, growth was expected to occur, but it took time. The one two-lane road between I469 and Stellhorn Road was able to handle the traffic volumes until the early 2000s. But occupancy in the area multiplied over the past 15 years, and became home to more than 80 businesses and retail operations, churches, homes and apartments.
That growth led to the Maysville Road improvement project that added travel lanes, a center turn lane, a trail and sidewalk with bridges, landscaping and decorative lighting above ground. Below ground, infrastructure was upgraded to meet current and future needs with new water mains, sanitary sewers and stormwater pipes.
The $5.5 million investment is supported with tax increment financing funds, generated only through the property taxes paid from businesses located in the Maysville-Stellhorn Economic Development Area.
“These funds are invested in infrastructure improvements that will serve the entire community and act as a catalyst for business growth. They are in addition to dollars coming from the City’s general fund that support infrastructure improvements throughout Fort Wayne’s neighborhoods,” said Nancy Townsend, Director of the Redevelopment Commission.
The author has lived nearby since June 1960 when this was still a dirt farm road called Meyer Road. I can remember collecting tadpoles in mud puddles in the farm tractor ruts in the dirt road. As a little kid by the end of summer the weeds in the road grew taller than we were. The name change occurred sometime after the subdivision developments, shopping centers, and several FWCS schools replaced the farmland.
Similar to Maysville Road, the Maplecrest Road widening photos begin in July 2019. No other photos are availble for now. Current Street View photo from Google Maps shows mostly grass and trees in the landscape plantings along and between the now four-lane road.
