Bob Arnold Northside Park

Size in acres: 37.47

Since 1978

Northside Park is located at E. State Blvd. and Parnell Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN, 46805. For more detailed location information, check out the General Park Map or Park Map 

History

Bob Arnold Northside Park was formerly the State School and Training Center.  When the State School's facilities were moved, the Board of Park Commissioners petitioned the State of Indiana to deed the property to the City of Fort Wayne for the purpose of building a park.  The land was deeded to the city in 1979 for the first time.  In 1981 a bond package was secured to fund the project.  Northside Park officially opened on June 4, 1983.  The name was changed from Northside Park to Bob Arnold Park in 1999 after the retirement of Bob Arnold, a previous long standing Director of the Fort Wayne Park & Recreation Department, who retired with 45 years of service to the city.   
 
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WHAT TO DO

Disc Golf

Disc Golf is a combination of frisbee and golf, a game where you will use a Frisbee to make it inside the basket target that are across various location in Bob Arnold Northside Park.  

Check out the NEW Disc Golf layout 
Find out more: Fort Disc Golf Club

Pavilions

Psi Ote Barn (Lower)
Location: Northside Park, E. State & Parnell
Capacity: 80

Psi Ote Barn (Upper) Location: Northside Park, E. State & Parnell Capacity: 96

More information is available on the renting pavilions page.

BasketBall

Basketball court is located near the playground and available to use.

Playground

Bob Arnold/Northside Park Playground is being refreshed!  A new project for playground equipment, complete with an upgraded border and improved drainage system, is planned for the park. 

Interested in the Playground Refresh Schedule and a listing of the 10 playgrounds being replaced this spring? 

The goal is to have the 10 playgrounds refreshed by the end of the School Year!     

The new additions will enhance the variety of playground activities available to children, including climbing, sliding, swinging, and a range of balance activities, as well as opportunities for rocking and spinning. Its thoughtful design will integrate with the park’s existing amenities, such as the community pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, and ballfields, to provide a complete recreational experience.

The new inclusive equipment is tailored to support the physical, social, and emotional development of children ages 2-12 and is accessible for all abilities, ensuring every child can play and learn. Parents and caregivers can enjoy as they supervise from the comfort of the existing seat-back benches beneath the shade trees.

Tennis Courts

Tennis courts are available* to test out your swinging skills.

*Northside High School and scheduled programs have priority.

An informal soccer field is available to play on. The field is near the tennis courts.

Swimming Pool

Northside pool, open during the summer season, offers water slides, a splash pad (zero depth area), shade umbrellas, learn to swim lessons, concessions, and plenty of fun! 

Main Office

 
The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department's main office is located in Northside Park. 

Mailing address: 705 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Fax number (260) 427-6020
Phone number (260) 427-6000.

McMillen Park 

Size in acres: 168.2

Since 1937

McMillen Park is located at 3900 Hessen Cassel and Oxford, Fort Wayne. For more detailed location information, check out the General Park Map or McMillen Park Map 

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History

Thanks to a generous donation by former Central Soya Chief Dale W. McMillen, the park that bears his name became a permanent resident of Fort Wayne in 1937. Though the park no longer hosts the city's Fourth of July fireworks show or the Twelfth Night Burning of the Greens (a gathering to dispose of holiday evergreens by bonfire), it still hosts many superb amenities.

The McMillen Park Community Center is open daily.  Check out the link for additional information on all of the programs offered at this site!

WHAT TO DO

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Pavilion

McMillen Pavilion
Location: 3900 Hessen Cassel & Oxford
Capacity: 256

For more information check out the Pavilion page.

Incoming Playground

Interested in the Playground Refresh Schedule and a listing of the 10 playgrounds being replaced this spring? 

The goal is to have the 10 playgrounds refreshed by the end of the School Year!     

The open field provides ample space for playing soccer, football, or simply running around.

Born Learning Trail 

On May 17, 2021 Women United Celebrated the Completion of their First Born Learning Trail in McMillen Park!  The Born Learning Trail is an innovative public engagement campaign that helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality early learning opportunities for adults to engage with young children to turn an outdoor trip into a fun learning experience.  The interactive signs throughout the trail offer instructions in both Spanish and English.  You will find the start of the trail near the playground in the park.

Enjoy a walk or run consisting of .67 miles! 

Sports


Basketball 

Turnstone has partnered with Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation to resurface and enhance four basketball courts in McMillen Park, featuring a giant four-court mural installed by local artist Andre Portee. The project is funded by a $50,000 NBA All-Star Legacy Grant which seeks to expand the accessibility of basketball across the state of Indiana. Learn more...

Tennis Courts

Tennis courts are available for use on occasion, though in the summer months they are heavily used for the Lifetime Sports Academy.

Golf Course/Driving Range

A fully equipped Executive 18 holes, park 65 golf course and Mad Anthony III's Short Course, (9 holes all par 3) are available for golfers as well as a driving range. Both the Mad Anthony III's and the driving range are open to the public when not in use by the Lifetime Sports Academy. Now available at this location is FootGolf so try something new!

Lifetime Sport Academy (LSA)

The Lifetime Sports Academy, under the supervision of Academy Director and Wayne High School teacher and track coach, Tom Hogan, is open to boys and girls ages 8-18 during the summer and offers free group lessons in the lifetime sports of golf, tennis and swimming. For those reaching certain advanced levels they are offered an opportunity to receive lessons in golf and tennis in the winter program.

McMillen Swimming Pool


The McMillen Swimming Pool includes water slides, sunning decks, shade umbrellas, heated water and a water playground. Swimming lessons are offered free as part of the Lifetime Sports Academy.

  
Memorial Park 

Size in acres: 42

Since 1918

Memorial Park is located on Washington Blvd/Maumee Ave. with access off of Glasgow in Fort Wayne, IN. For more detailed location information, check out the General Park Map, or Memorial Park Map 

Photo provided by Jodie Brown of the Grotto in Memorial Park.  Photo taken August 1930.

History

Memorial Park is a tribute to the men and women of Fort Wayne and Allen County who gave their lives in service of their country during World War I. The land that was formerly known as the "golf grounds" and that would later be Memorial Park was acquired from Ms. Minnie Hill White on November 29, 1918, only eighteen days after the signing of the armistice that ended the conflict. Known for several beautifully sculpted monuments commemorating various participants and events in the conflict, it also includes a monument to aviation pioneer, originator of skywriting and Fort Wayne resident Art Smith. Smith Field Airport would later be renamed in his honor.

WHAT TO DO

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Memorial Grove



Thanks to the Warrior Breed Motorcycle Club for raising funds for an additional 71 trees that were planted in Memorial Park Grove. The trees represent the men and women from Allen County who died in Active Service during WWI. A total of four species were planted including: white oak, hackberry, elm and tulip.

Ball Diamonds

One ball diamond, great for practices, is located near the swimming pool at Memorial Park. For more information on ball diamonds, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.





Fort Wayne Parks Deputy Director of Recreation Chuck Reddinger and TinCaps Team President Mike Nutter unveiled two new monuments at Memorial Park, the Daisies team’s home field from 1946-1954. The monuments were unveiled on June 3rd, 2023.



This collaboration of the TinCaps and Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation began with a dream in early 2022 to honor the individuals who wore the Fort Wayne Daisies uniform with distinction. After fundraising and planning, the monuments are now situated above and south of the baseball fieldThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Read more....


Pavilion

Memorial Pavilion

Location: Memorial Park, Maumee & Glasgow
Capacity: 160
Dates Available: April 15-October 31
For more information, check out the Pavilion page

A bit of history on the pavilion: Memorial Park pavilion was built in 1941 by the WPA (Works Progress Administration). 

Playground

The playground is located near the drive into Memorial Park. It includes classic equipment such as a slide, jungle gym, and a see-saw.

Swimming Pool



The swimming pool at Memorial Park is located near E. Washington Blvd.

Sprayground



The Sprayground at Memorial Park is the crowing glory of the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department's spraygrounds. Full of colorful play equipment and plenty of water to refresh the entire family on a hot summer's day.

Trails

 

Memorial Park is full of great old trees, picnicking spots and historical memorials. It's a great place for a stroll in the park.

Basketball Courts

Several basketball courts are available for play at Memorial Park. They are located right off of Maumee Avenue. 

Lawton Skatepark is located near the corner of Clinton Street and 4th Street in downtown Fort Wayne. The Skatepark's 20,000 square foot facility has 9 tons of reinforced steel, 500 cubic yards of concrete, and is lit at night (requires a button to be pressed) until the park closes.

The park is surrounded by an 8' fence and has one turn-style entry at the east side. There are beginner, intermediate and advanced areas and has bowls, ramps, and "fun boxes" that imitate city scape. The most advanced bowl has a 9' drop off!

Hours for the facility are the same as all parks-open at 6:00 a.m. and closed at 11:00 p.m. during the season. The facility will close dependent on the weather and is generally closed during the winter months.

Please note, Lawton Skatepark is to be used for skateboards and in-line skates only. No other wheeled modes of transportation are allowed.

The lights at the park will turn off at 10:45 p.m., so that skaters will know it’s time to go home since the park officially closes at 11:00 p.m.