List of parks in Fort Wayne, Indiana facts for kids

Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a city full of amazing green spaces! It has many parks where you can play, explore, and relax. As of 2009, the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department took care of 86 public parks. These parks covered a huge area of about 2,805 acres (11.35 square kilometers). That's like having over 2,000 football fields of parkland!

The department also looks after thousands of trees along the streets and in the parks. The biggest park in Fort Wayne is Franke Park, which is about 329 acres (133 hectares). The smallest is Orff Park, which is tiny, only about 0.02 acres (0.008 hectares). Fort Wayne also has the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, which is a special indoor garden. It's about 24,500 square feet (2,276 square meters) and has over 1,200 different kinds of plants, including many types of cacti!

Besides the public parks, there are also some private parks within Fort Wayne. These parks are owned by private groups or people, but some might be open for everyone to visit.

Discover Fort Wayne's Public Parks

Fort Wayne has many public parks, each with its own special features. Here's a look at some of them:

Parks for Play and Sports

• Bass Playground

This park was officially acquired in 1928, but kids were playing here even before that! It has a basketball court and a playground.

• Bloomingdale Park

Acquired in 1916, this park sits along the St. Marys River. It's a great spot with a boat launch, basketball courts, a playground, and access to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway, which is a path along the river.

• Bob Arnold Northside Park

Named after a former parks director, this large park opened in 1983. It has two picnic shelters, tennis courts, a playground, soccer fields, and a public swimming pool. The main offices for the Parks Department are also here.

• Boone Street Playlot

This small neighborhood park, acquired in 1969, is perfect for a quick play session with its playground.

• Bowser Park

Donated in 1932 by inventor Sylvanus Bowser and his wife, this park has an open-air picnic shelter, a playground, and a basketball court.

• Brackenridge Playground

A small neighborhood park dedicated in 1970, it offers a playground and a basketball court.

• Brewer Park

Acquired in 1954, this park has a playground, a basketball court, and picnic tables for families to enjoy.

• Buckner Park

One of the city's biggest parks, Buckner was started in 1969. It has a picnic shelter, restrooms, two playgrounds, a splash pad (a fun water play area!), and trails. Much of the park is still natural with woods and open fields.

• Camp Allen Park

This park has a cool history! Acquired in 1912, it was once a training camp for soldiers during the U.S. Civil War. It's named after a local soldier, John Allen, who died in the War of 1812. The park is next to the St. Marys River and has a playground and basketball court.

• Casselwood Park

Acquired in 1975, this park is great for baseball with its diamond and also has a playground.

• Daryl B. Cobin Memorial Park

Dedicated in 2008, this park is home to Carrington Field, where the Fort Wayne Baseball Federation plays. It's also connected to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway.

• East Central Playlot

Acquired in 1974, this park is a simple spot with a playground.

• Griswold Avenue Playlot

This park, acquired in 1931, has a playground for kids to enjoy.

• Hamilton Park

Acquired in 1903, this park has baseball and softball fields, three playgrounds, three tennis courts, a picnic shelter, and trails.

• Hanna Homestead Park

Acquired in 1966, this park features a playground, a ball field, a basketball court, a picnic shelter, and a paved walking trail.

• Jehl Park

Acquired in 1979, this park is great for active fun with a tennis court, basketball court, playground, and a trail with fitness stations.

• John Street Park

A small park acquired in 1975, it includes a playground.

• Justin Study Park

Acquired in 1932, this park has basketball courts, tennis courts, a picnic shelter, and a playground.

• Kettler Park

Acquired in 1947, this park offers two tennis courts, a basketball court, picnic tables, a picnic shelter, a playground, and a casual ball field.

• Klug Park

Acquired in 1916, this park has a basketball court and a playground.

• Lafayette Park

Acquired in 1915, this park includes a picnic shelter, two tennis courts, and two playgrounds.

• Lions Park

Acquired in 1953, this park is a great place for sports with four pickleball courts, a ball field, a basketball court, a tennis court, a playground, and a picnic shelter.

• Mason Park

This park has three ball fields that are used for Elmhurst Little League games.

• McCormick Park

Donated in 1927, this park has a picnic shelter, a playground, a basketball court, a splash pad, restrooms, and picnic tables.

• Memorial Park

Acquired in 1918, this park has a ball field, a public swimming pool, a splash pad, a picnic shelter, a playground, and five basketball courts. It also has a special memorial wall and monuments honoring local people who served in World War I.

• Miner Playground

Acquired in 1973, this park is a simple spot with a playground.

• Moody Park

One of the oldest parks, acquired in 1864, it has a picnic shelter, a playground, a basketball court, and picnic tables.

• Old Fort Park

Acquired in 1863, this is the oldest city park! It has volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and even the original well from a fort built in 1794.

• Packard Park

Acquired in 1937, this park has a picnic shelter, two playgrounds, two tennis courts, and a softball field.

• Pontiac Block Park

This park is a great spot for a game of basketball with its court.

• Psi Ote Park

Acquired in 1953, this park has a picnic shelter, a playground, and a basketball court.

• Robert E. Meyers Park

Named after a former Fort Wayne mayor, this park was opened in 2009. It's next to Parkview Field and has an amphitheater and a splash pad.

• Rockhill Park

This park has a ball field, a basketball court, a playground, a picnic shelter, and connects to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway.

• Ronald G. Repka Memorial Park

Acquired in 2003, this park has a picnic shelter, a playground, paved walking trails, and a bioswale (a special area that helps clean rainwater).

• Rudisill–Fairfield Park

This small "pocket park" acquired in 1976 has a bench and a flagpole.

• Sieling Block Park

Acquired in 1915, this park offers open space for play.

• Summit Street Block Park

Acquired in 1976, this park has a playground, benches, and picnic tables.

• Tillman Park

Acquired in 1966, this park is the southern end of the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway. It has a soccer field, a playground, three ball fields, the Stewart McMillen Tennis Center, and picnic tables.

• Turpie Playlot

Acquired in 1969, this park has a playground.

• Waynedale Gardens

Acquired in 1975, this park has a playground and open natural space.

• Waynedale Park

Acquired in 1957, this park has two tennis courts, a basketball court, a horseshoe pit, a playground, restrooms, a picnic shelter, a splash pad, and exercise stations.

• Weisser Park

Acquired in 1909, this park has a ball field, a recreation center, a picnic shelter, a playground, a basketball court, and two tennis courts.

• Wells Street Park

This small "pocket park" offers benches and open space.

• West Central Playlot

Acquired in 1972, this park has a playground and open space.

• Williams Park

Donated in 1890, this small neighborhood park offers open space.

Parks with Unique Features & History

• Courthouse Green

Dedicated in 1999, this green space is in front of the Allen County Courthouse. It has beautiful floral displays and benches, and it's a popular spot for public gatherings.

• Foster Park

Acquired in 1912, Foster Park is one of the city's most popular parks. It's a big part of the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway, with about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) of riverside along the St. Marys River. You can find one of the city's three public golf courses here, tennis courts, picnic shelters, volleyball courts, a dog park, baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, playgrounds, and community gardens. There's even a special bridal garden and a replica of Abraham Lincoln's birth cabin!

• Franke Park

Acquired in 1921, Franke Park is the largest city park and one of the most visited. It's home to Shoaff Lake, the Foellinger Theatre (an outdoor concert stage), and the famous Fort Wayne Children's Zoo! Other fun things include three picnic shelters, restrooms, a BMX bike track, a sledding hill for winter fun, playgrounds, and hiking trails.

• Freimann Square

This urban park was dedicated in 1971. It's a popular place for events, especially in warmer weather. It has a beautiful fountain, benches, flower gardens, and cool sculptures, including a bronze statue of General Anthony Wayne, who the city is named after.

• Guldlin Park

Acquired in 1897, this park has a boat launch and is kept as open space to help manage flood waters from the St. Marys River.

• Hanna's Ford Park

This park is an undeveloped natural open space along the St. Joseph River.

• Headwaters Park

Acquired in 2000, Headwaters Park was built between 1995 and 1999 to help control floods downtown along the St. Marys River. It's a huge festival spot, hosting the biggest festival in the region, the Three Rivers Festival, and many other events. In winter, you can even find an ice rink here! The park has picnic shelters, a sculpture garden, an amphitheater, restrooms, a splash pad, and connects to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway.

• Indian Village Park

Acquired in 1926, this park is on the north side of the St. Marys River and connects to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway. It has a picnic shelter, a playground, and natural open space.

• Ivan Lebamoff Reservoir Park

Acquired in 1880, this park was once the city's first water reservoir! It has a 50-foot (15-meter) mound, a fishing pond, a fountain, a community center, basketball courts, and a playground. It was renamed in 2009 after former mayor Ivan Lebamoff.

• Japanese Friendship Garden

This small, peaceful garden was a gift from Fort Wayne's sister city, Takaoka, Japan. It's located downtown between the Arts United Center and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

• Johnny Appleseed Park

Acquired in 1973, this park is named after the famous American folk hero, Johnny Appleseed, who is believed to be buried here. It's along the St. Joseph River, connects to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway, and has a boat launch for fishing. You can also find a campground, picnic area, and playground here. The park hosts a big annual event, the Johnny Appleseed Festival.

• Kreager Park

This large park, with land acquired in 1992 and 1997, has lots of sports fields! It includes four lighted softball fields, the city's first "boundless playground" (designed for all kids), a splash pad, eight tennis courts, eight lighted soccer fields, and access to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway along the Maumee River.

• Lakeside Park

Acquired in 1908, this park is famous for its three ponds (where you can fish), a fountain, basketball courts, picnic shelters, a playground, and tennis courts. Lakeside is especially known for its beautiful sunken floral gardens. Since 1928, it's been a National Rose Garden, with over 2,000 rose plants of 150 different types!

• Lawton Park

One of the city's oldest parks, acquired in 1866, it was once used for the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It has ball fields, a football field, a playground, a large skate park, and a greenhouse that grows plants for the Parks Department. It also connects to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway.

• Lindenwood Nature Preserve

Acquired in 1987, Lindenwood became a nature preserve in 1994. It's a beautiful place with a pond, thick woods, and hiking trails where you can explore nature.

• Little Turtle Memorial

This small park is the final resting place for Miami tribe chief, Little Turtle. The land was donated in 1959 and dedicated in 1960.

• McCulloch Park

Donated by Hugh McCulloch (a former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury), this park was originally a public cemetery. Most buried here were moved, but Indiana's seventh governor, Samuel Bigger, is still buried here. The park has a gazebo, a playground, and picnic tables.

• McMillen Park

The largest park on the city's southeast side, McMillen was donated in 1937. It has a picnic shelter, restrooms, a large community center, one of the city's three public golf courses, a driving range, a public swimming pool, a playground, three ball fields, four basketball courts, four tennis courts, and a lacrosse and football field.

• Noll Park

Gifted to the city in 1974, this park is mostly dense woods, offering a peaceful natural escape.

• Nuckols Memorial Park

Acquired in 1876, this park was renamed in 1986 to honor John Nuckols, Fort Wayne's first African American city councilman. It has a monument and plaque remembering him.

• Orff Park

Acquired in 1892, Orff is the smallest park in the city! It has a monument and a bus shelter. The statue, called Let's Go Swimming, shows two young men heading to Fort Wayne's old aqueduct for a swim.

• Rea Park

Donated in 2003, this park has a soccer field and natural open space.

• Roosevelt Park

Acquired in 1919, this park is kept as natural open space and connects to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway.

• Solomon Farm Park

Donated in 1995, this park is kept as a working farm! It has a learning center, a YMCA facility, a pond, wetlands, woods, and paved walking trails. They even have a farmers' market and a fall festival here every year.

• Shoaff Park

Acquired in 1955, Shoaff Park has tons of fun things to do! It's along the St. Joseph River and has a boat launch and fishing spots. You can also find one of the city's three public golf courses, a driving range, a Frisbee disc golf course, two picnic shelters, a playground, a splash pad, a baseball field, and a soccer field. There are miles of paved walking trails, and it will soon connect to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway.

• Strathmore Park

This park is an undeveloped natural open space.

• Swinney Park

This park is split by the St. Marys River. It was once home to an amusement park from 1920 to 1953! The historic Swinney Homestead and Log Cabin are here. You can fish in the pond, play on two playgrounds, use eight tennis courts, a ball field, a basketball court, or play disc golf. It also has a Japanese pavilion, beautiful gardens, and connects to the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway.

• Vesey Park

Acquired in 1912, Vesey Park keeps natural open space and woods along Spy Run Creek.

• Zeis Park

This area is owned by the city but is undeveloped.

Other Parks in Fort Wayne

There are also some parks in Fort Wayne that are privately owned or operated. These include:

• Camp Thomas A. Scott Wetlands Nature Preserve
• Crystal Spring Park
• Dupont Sport and Fitness Park
• Fort Wayne Police Memorial Garden
• Indian Trails Park
• Klotz Park
• Library Plaza
• Lutheran Park and Gardens
• Mengerson Nature Reserve
• Northwood Park
• I&M Power Center Plaza
• Parkview Family Park
• Praise Park
• Van Hoozen Community Park
• Westlawn Park

Images for kids

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  The Allen County Courthouse, next to Courthouse Green.