Promenade Park

Promenade Park Grand Opening
202 W. Superior Street

August 9-11

Promenade Park, the first phase of our transformational Riverfront Fort Wayne Project, will finally be a reality in August 2019. This highly anticipated grand opening celebration will take place from Friday, August 9-Sunday August 11. Friday’s highlights include the ribbon cutting and various arts performances. Saturday includes boating and recreation. Sunday’s focus will be on nature and our rivers’ ecosystem. Watch for complete details coming soon! Follow us on social media and sign up for the newsletter at RiverfrontFW.org to stay current on updates! 

 Rental Opportunities in Promenade Park

General Guidelines:

In order to rent any space in Promenade Park, you must schedule an in-person meeting with the Riverfront Fort Wayne Events and Programs Manager, Megan Butler (260.427.6248). At the time of the meeting, you will sign your contract and put down your 50% deposit. No date is held without a signed contract and deposit. No contracts are approved without the minimum following information supplied at time of contract signing:

• Rental date(s)
• Space(s) requested
• Reasonable expected attendance
• Times for: set up (including for outside vendors), guest arrival, and tear down  

Rentable Spaces:

Generally, the spaces available for rent in Promenade Park are the Park Foundation Pavilion (inside and outside), Auer Lawn and Sweetwater Band Shell East, Old National Bank Plaza and Sweetwater Band Shell west, and the historic Wells Street Bridge. The only space that is entirely covered, and therefore weather-proof, is the indoor portion of the Park Foundation Pavilion.

Capacities:

The indoor capacity of the Park Foundation Pavilion is around 150 people seated at tables and chairs. Capacity decreases with the addition of amenities, such as music, buffet tables, podiums, décor, dance floors, etc. All event layouts must be approved.  

Food and Alcohol:

All alcohol is provided by Trubble Brewing. All food, except celebratory cakes, must be provided by a vendor on the approved catering list. All events with alcohol require security that is scheduled by Parks and Recreation staff.

Amenities and stipulations which may be required for your event include but are not limited to:

• Security Officers
• Portajons
• Trash pick up
• Crowd managers
• Permits which may apply to your event: Department of Natural Resources, Excise, Homeland Security, Fort Wayne Fire Department, Fort Wayne Street Department, Fort Wayne Public Works, Allen County Building Department, and the Allen County Health Department
• Approvals are required for: tenting, décor, tables, chairs, staging, audio visual equipment, and dock usage

The following items and events are not permitted within Promenade Park:

• Drop in classes or programs
• Lantern or balloon releases
• Fireworks
  

Riverfront Brochure

For more information about the project, check out the Riverfront Fort Wayne brochure.

Construction Update: Riverfront Phase I


 


View the May 26, 2019 Construction Report (Please note, this will be the last Construction Report posted until the Park OPENS on August 9-11!!)

View additional Construction Reports

  The Proposed Site Plan

Promenade Park News

Promenade Park Lease Agreement with Trubble Brewing

Fort Wayne, Ind. – At their monthly meeting on Friday, February 15, the Fort Wayne Board of Park Commissioners signed a lease agreement with Trubble Riverside LLC for the dining facility in the new Promenade Park, which is set to open to the public August 9. Trubble Riverside, which operates Trubble Brewing, will manage the Trubble Riverside Cafe and Tap in the Park Foundation Pavilion inside Promenade Park, the first phase of the Riverfront Fort Wayne development project.

Learn more about Trubble at www.trubblebrewing.com.

 History

Three rivers converge in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne.
People in Northeast Indiana have gathered here for centuries.
Experience the legacy. Explore the natural wonder.
And enjoy this community’s new momentum forward.

Riverfront Revival

In the 2000s, Northeast Indiana’s residents began to recognize the importance of our rivers again.

Mayor Tom Henry established Legacy Fort Wayne in 2011 to guide the spending of approximately $75 million through the Light Lease Settlement and Fort Wayne Community Trust funds. The Mayor solicited hundreds of ideas from the community on how best to utilize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the desire for riverfront development rose to the top of the list.

With the public’s overwhelming support, Mayor Henry commissioned a comprehensive Riverfront study. Throughout the process, thousands of residents completed surveys, attended events, heard presentations, shared their ideas and even experienced the rivers themselves with riverboat excursions and Dragon Boat races.

In 2015, a conceptual plan was drawn up and shared with the community. Fort Wayne City Council approved $6 million in funds for Riverfront work, including maintenance, development and events. Mayor Henry formed a Riverfront Implementation Committee to guide the project, and the city hired Riverworks Design Group to take the conceptual plan and develop schematic designs.

This led to Phase I of Riverfront Fort Wayne. 

Learn more about the Ground Breaking News Release on Promenade Park! 

Promenade Park Sculpture

Are you curious about the Sculpture?  Read more...

Little Creek Bioswale

What is the Little Creek Bioswale? Learn more...
This project is partly funded by:

Calendar


We're lighting up the river with year-round programs.  Check out the on-line calendar  for information on Summer programs including: Young Naturalist Series, Storytime on the Riverfront, Stargazing on the Riverfront, Riverfront Citizen Science, Riverfront Walking Tours, Riverfront Boat Tours, Pedal, Paddle and Play, Open Streets, Riverfront Clean Ups and more!

  Park Foundation Pavilion

 

The Fort Wayne Park Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce its support of Promenade Park by raising funds for the construction of the Park Foundation Pavilion. With generous contributions from area foundations and individuals, the Foundation raised $1,000,000 which was generously matched with $500,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. In addition, the Park Foundation pledged $150,000 from its unrestricted endowment funds to support the project.  

Check out the News Release for additional information or the Riverfront web site!

Riverfront Endowment Donations

The Fort Wayne Park Foundation invites families to become a part of local history by supporting Promenade Park. A gift of $500 will be recognized with an inscription on a Greenscape Step within the Park. It's similar to buying a brick. The purpose of this campaign is to create a legacy endowment for Promenade Park. The Promenade Endowment will help support improvements, updates and programming along the rivers, and will be operated by the Fort Wayne Park Foundation, a nonprofit charity. All donations are tax-deductible and can be made securely at the Park Foundation website. Learn more: https://fwparkfoundation.org/product/donate/
  

Donations

Donations are needed for Promenade Park for an on-going maintenance endowment once the park opens.  Individual donations may be given on-line.  For corporate donations please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Manager of Information & Development, at 260-427-6024.