Lakeside
Size in acres: 23.8
Since 1908
Park Hours: 6 am-11 pm daily.
Lakeside Park is located at 1401 Lake Avenue. For more detailed location information, check out the General Park Map or Lakeside Park Map
Scroll down for more information about our park features:
History
- 1908 Land for this 23.8 acre landscape was purchased.
- 1911 Excavation for lagoons began.
- 1916 A refectory pavilion is constructed.
- 1921 Superintendent of Parks Adolphe Jaenicke designs the sunken gardens.
- 1925 An Italianate sunken garden and pergola are built.
- 1928 the garden was named a National Rose Garden.
- 1928 Tennis courts are installed
This Red-tailed Hawk was seen watching people play basketball at Lakeside Park! Photo credit: Chuck Milledge
The uncredited 1912 master plan for Lakeside Park is likely the work of renowned landscape architect, George Kessler, who designed the Park and Boulevard Plan for Fort Wayne the same year.
Throughout the park walks connect to the nearby street grid. Historic photographs reveal ornate furniture and flowerbeds. Four lagoons, both natural and excavated, are featured in the original plans, along with serpentine paths, a curvilinear drive, and bridges leading to islands in the lagoons.
Additional Historical Information available:
Read more about the Reconstruction of the Sunken Gardens ...
Read more about local history including Lakeside Park by Randy Hater, Fort Wayne Reader.
For additional history and photos, check out the Lakeside Park history powerpoint!
WHAT TO DO
Scroll down for more information about our park features:
Pavilions
Lakeside Pavilion #1
Location: 1401 Lake Avenue
Capacity: 72
Lakeside Pavilion #2
Location: 1401 Lake Avenue
Capacity: 80
For more information, check out the pavilion page.
Basketball Court
A basketball court is available for use. The court is located near the playground and Lakeside #1.
Tennis & Pickleball Courts
The park now features one tennis and six pickleball courts.
Playground
Playgrounds for toddlers on up through pre-teens are available near Lakeside #1.
6 new parks are being planned including this one at Lakeside Park! Additional details coming soon!
Floral Display/Rose Garden
The sunken gardens were originally created at a cost of $17,500. More information on the Rose Gardens and reservation information can be found here.
Lakeside Park Little Free Library
Creating a new Little Free Library was thought of by Nicole as a dedication project for a co-worker, Josie, who celebrated 20 years of service with the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department. This truly was a team effort involving maintenance techs (constructed the library out of a tree), gardeners (carved out rotting wood and planted flagstone and the flower bed around the tree), Nicole’s painting skills as well as a neighbor girl who donated her time and stenciled the flowers and butterflies that are now present at the library. Another neighbor donated the window. The Lakeside Little Free Library has been in operation since the fall of 2019. Stop by the Little Free Library the next time you are near Lakeside Park and either pick up or drop off a book of your choosing!
Walking Path
A walking path circles around the park providing a nice loop for walking and enjoying the park. The path is a little over half a mile in length
Crescent Moon Quartet Sculpture
A brand new sculpture can now be seen at Lakside Park! Check out this Press Release to learn more!
Fishing
Fishing is permitted from 6 am-11 pm daily in Lakeside Pond with an appropriate license; all state regulations apply.
For additional information, check out: Fishing Guide & Regulations.
Lakeside Pond is part of the DNR's urban fishing program called Go FishIN in the City .
Check out the site for more information on the program, including future
stocking times and special fishing opportunities.
Memorial
Lakeside memorial dedicated to those who made the supreme sacrifice in World War 2.
