Summer Playground Program Information  

The 2023 Summer Playground program will be held!  Check out individual lnks to learn more and register today:

Jennings
McMillen
Weisser 


Park & Play: Mobile Recreation Unit

The Parks and Recreation Department is putting fun on wheels this summer and bringing youth actitivies to your neighborhood with our new mobile recreation unit.  Learn more! 


FUN Day Photos

Enjoy some Fun Day Photos from past Summer Playground programs throughout the years.     

Memorial Park Carnival 2019

Hope Books

Katie Dorsey has a passion for reading and giving back to the community.  Katie distributed FREE books to our Summer Playground participants.  Thank you Katie for sharing your love of reading to others. To find out more about Katie and her organization Hope Books read below.

Katie Dorsey started Hope Books in March 2015. It started as a challenge to create a take a book, leave a book box. After seeing how many children came into Community Harvest Food Bank she decided that was where she wanted to place her box. The program evolved from there to include Boys and Girls Club, The Urban League and several Community Centers in downtown Fort Wayne, along with various other locations. Nearly all of the new and gently used books are donated. Since March 2015 she has given away over 7000 books to kids in our community who may not have the opportunity to own a book otherwise.  Katie says, "My favorite part of this program is seeing the children's face light up when I hand them a book and tell them it is theirs to keep. It reminds me why I do this. Through Hope Books kids will grow a passion for books and learning that will help them succeed in the future. " You can find out more about what Katie is doing through Hope Books by visiting HopeBooksFW.blogspot.com or find her on Facebook at HopeBooksFW.

Additional Information

Call 260.427.6000 for additional information. 

  

Testimonials from parents: 

 

Lakeside Park:

Program well supervised. No worries, feel kids are safe. Diane B.

This has given me free time to do my other duties and at the same time provide fun and education to the kids-works out great! Henry C.

"Miss Kim provided energy, a ready smile, appropriate discipline and a photographic memory, not to mention strong leadership for the rest of the staff at her site.  My child looked forward to the days she would be coming.  Thank you!" Paul O.

"The best summer I ever had." J. Bridsall

"The summer program was great. My grand kids were very excited every day they came. I hope to see the staff next summer! Very good work, keep it up. Have a restful August. Thanks." Mrs. Jones

"I thank God for this program. This program is inspirational, fun, encouraging and exciting for my children. They beg me to allow them to come and stay until 4pm. The camp workers, Mrs. Theresa and Mrs. Alexis are terrific! Thank you again for helping the neighborhood children have a dynamite, fabulous and fun super summer!" Mrs. Jay C.

"He really liked the program. The staff provided my kids with excellent care. The kids were happy, safe, and stimulated. I would recommend the program to any parent." Patricia B.

"Thank you, it is a very good program. It helps parents very much." Hbdalla H.

"I am a parent of four children and one just came at the beginning of June. So it was very helpful to know that I can bring my older three to be entertained by the caring staff and fed lunches whenever we decided to come to the park this summer. Great help for a busy mom!"

"Tristian enjoyed coming and interacting with the other kids. He really enjoyed games, kickball, etc. He said he likes the Ford a lot." Kathryn B.

"I thanked God for the program. It gave my kids a wonderful way to spend the summer with other kids and meeting new people, which builds up their self-esteem. You couldn’t get any better than the staff. You guys pick wonderful, very exciting people who love the kids. I thank you again for a wonderful summer for my kids." Nicole A.

Packard Park:

My children like the staff; as do I. Marketta J.

This program is top notch excellent-this is a very professional, well-supervised program.  I can leave them and feel very secure.  Cheryl L.

The staff was so amazing! My children adored them.  This is very educational! The field trips were great, and the library coming out was also great.  We are absolutely coming back next year! Amanda W.

Sports are great along with other activities.  We enjoyed this program very well.  My children love going to the park everyday.  They have learned so much and made new friends.  Amanda W.

Lafayette Park:

You all were great-you kept us informed with anything and everything. Thank you a lot-Cassandra C.

My children really enjoyed how the staff interacts with the kids-Marie S.

Hamilton Park:

"It is awesome." Chris A.

"I enjoyed the program." Faith

"The summer park program has been a blessing to our family – we have been very impressed by it. As well the summer park program has exceeded our expectations. The staff is fantastic – our children talk about how fun, kind and welcoming staff members have been towards them. As parents, the staff has always been courteous, helpful and polite to us. Overall, it was clear that staff members enjoyed working with the children and were dedicated to their job. There were also several programs during the day – such as Auntie Anne’s Pretzel’s, Girl Scouts, etc. – that added to the fun of the program. We were impressed by these programs and our children absolutely loved them. Staff members also made some neat crafts with the kids and those were some of the kids’ favorite times. Overall the summer park program provided our children with an incredibly fun, friend-filled, and interesting summer. Along with having a good time the children also were provided with the wonderful opportunities previously discussed. Many thanks for offering this program. We look forward to it in summers to come." Aaron & Jen G.

"Thank you so much for allowing our children the opportunity to play at the park, make new friends, and enjoy some arts and crafts time. My children have formed friendships, that have brought them great joy…so, thank you again for the program. We have enjoyed it very much."

"I appreciated the mature staff that kept track of all those fun games and activities. The kids enjoyed the staff’s friendliness and their involvement in games. Five star effort!"Karen P.

"This was the best program of all the Fort Wayne Parks!" Billy G.