Parks of Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana

Parks' obscure but historic pedestrian bridges link city's past and future three pedestrian bridges in Lawton, Swinney and Foster parks dating back to 1894,1897 and 1930, respectively, are on the National Register of Historic Places. By Kevin Leininger published May 3, 2016 in The News-Sentinel newspaper . 100 Years Centennial 1905 2005 Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation 100 Years of Fun was a 12-page special insert of Fort Wayne Newspapers. City parks celebrating 100 years of 'breathing places' by Nancy Vendrely published June 5, 2005 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

Foster Park - newspaper ad shown in the June 18, 1911 album onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. Extended Interview: Foster Park, Fort Wayne's "People's Park" by Julia Meek with audio interview with park director Al Moll published July 24, 2015 on WBOI.org. Foster Park's Splendid Secret a campground stop on the 1913 Lincoln Highway by Eric Olsen, 21Country Featured Reporter January 26, 2017 on 21AliveNews.com. See photos and discussion February 13, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Fort Wayne Area Parks: Allen County

Foster Park

Foster Park by City of Fort Wayne. Discussed September 14, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook. Footbridge photos and discussion May 23, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Foster Park on The Cultural Landscape Foundation. Foster Park Cabin Replica by Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection Publication date 1865 Topics Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Parks Collection lincolncollection; americana

Franke Park

Discussed September 15, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Freimann Square 200 East Main Street, 4.6 acres since 1971, funded in large part by the posthumous donation of Frank Freimann, the former president of Magnavox Company. From History on City of Fort WayneParks & Recreation page.

Headwaters Park discussed September 16, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Ivan Lebamoff Reservoir Park discussed September 20, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Johnny Appleseed Park discussed September 23, 2015 and April 9, 2017 video by Tom Mauger on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Kreager Park discussed September 27, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Lakeside Park - Fort Wayne, IN May 2008- established in 1908 from sign posted September 23, 2018 by Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. on Facebook. YouTube video uploaded May 25, 2008 by Steve Godfrey·Discussed September 28, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook. See 1908 photo posted April 24, 2017 onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

Lawton Park discussed September 29, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook. Lawton Park also is marking its 150th anniversary story on the Philippine Gun Mount Monument restoration by Kevin Kilbane published November 18, 2016 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. Lawton Park greenhouses discussed in Where city flowers take root by Terri Richardson published April 10, 2017 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

Lindenwood Nature Preserve discussed October 1, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Memorial Park since 1918 is 42 acres with photos and information on the City of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation page. discussed October 6, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook. The headless statue was discussed in Headless statue and more discussed in City's history is in for a monumental -- and well-deserved -- facelift by Kevin Leininger published November 13 2015 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. UPDATED: Indiana Tech, Fort Wayne Parks to partner on new softball, track facilities in Memorial Park staff report published April 4, 2017 and History, intent of Memorial Park at odds with plans for Indiana Tech athletic facilities there by Kevin Kilbane published April 8, 2017 and Athletic facilities won't taint Memorial Park by Frank Gray published April 11, 2017 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. See Memorial Park on Cultural Landscape Foundation. Memorial Park's Uncertain Future with video published April 18, 2017 by Eric Olson, 21Country Featured Reporter. Twenty some photos of memorials posted April 20, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Veterans angry about plans to uproot memorial trees video by Corinne Rose published April 21, 2017 on 21AliveNews.com. Headless statue discussed April 23, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Northside opened July 4, 1983, formerly the State School and Training Center, in 1999 renamed Bob Arnold Park discussed October 6, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Old Fort Park created on a fifth of an acre in 1863 during the Civil War on the site occupied by the last two American forts. A monument of a well and "well-sweep" at the current Fire Station #1 remains. In 1900 the Spanish-American War cannon, located in Swinney Park since 1956, was dedicated in Old Fort Park. Read more about Fort Wayne’s First Park posted May 30, 2013 by Tom Castaldi on the History Center Notes & Queries blog.

Shoaff Park 6401 St. Joe Road, was made possible by a generous donation from Mr. and Mrs. Fred B. Shoaff in 1955, discussed October 13, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Swinney Park

1600 W. Jefferson Blvd., in his will Colonel Thomas W. Swinney decreed his land should be given to Fort Wayne after the death of his three daughters. In 1923 the city took possession, discussed October 15, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook. Has a Johnny Appleseed marker and at Swinney Homestead is a Spanish gun with 1956 historical marker originally in the Old Fort Park with photos discussed March 30, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Photo of Col. Foster in Swinney Park posted May 14, 2017 onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. 1927 photo of swimmers around the pool posted January 25, 2018 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Weisser Park 3000 Hanna St., was purchased from Magdelena Weisser in 1909 for about $10,000. Originally only 15 acres, the park today is 20 acres and known for the beauty of its wooded areas, discussed October 16, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Addie's Park - discussed on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook

Coliseum Park mentioned August 5, 2014 from August 25, 1917 newspaper photo onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

Donations help city parks thrive Department receives about $1 million yearly in gifts 16 of them are more than a century old by Dan Stockman published May 18, 2014 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

Headwaters Park - A Park at the Headwaters by Tom Castaldi published July 31, 2014 in History Center Notes & Queries blog. Discussed September 16, 2015 on Friends of Parks of Allen County on Facebook. Headwaters Park on Civic Arts.com and Headwaters Park - A towering idea published February 4, 2008 in The Journal Gazette newspaperon CivicArt.com.

Ice Skaing - Couple lament city ban on ice skating on ponds by Frank Gray published March 3, 2015 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

William's Park was bounded by Creighton Avenue on the north; Webster Street on the east; Hoagland Avenue on the west and Woodland Avenue on the south. It is presently the Williams-Woodland Historic District. See 1889 photo posted December 21, 2014 onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

Fort Wayne's Park & Boulevard system began with George Kessler http://www.georgekessler.org. See also 1862 - 1923 George E. Kessler from Friends of the Parks of Allen County on Facebook.

Parks Information

1. City of Fort WayneParks & Recreation www.fortwayneparks.org/
2. Parks and Trails Information at Visit Fort Wayne
3. Articles from The News-Sentinel newspaper100 Years 1905-2005 Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation 100 Years of Fun special supplement in 2005 with article Loving the Parks: A First Person Account by Betty Stein posted November 5, 2017 and March 17, 1990 Park Fame Carries Price posted November 5, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook

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