Botanical Conservatory

The Conservatory features numerous Botanically Inspired Classes, Color In Motion, Breakfast with Butterflies, String Jams Spring Jam, Spring Bonsai Show, Bunny Tales in the Garden, Mother's Day in the Garden, T’ai Chi Tuesdays, Art Displays, and so much more!

For more information on Spring events happening at the Conservatory check out the Bunny Tales, Mother's Day in the Garden, Mother's Day Plant Sale, and Color in Motion Blogs!

Community Center

The Community Center offers a wide variety of programs throughout the year as well as programs of interest to all ages!  Some of these programs include numerous Sports and Art Classes for Kids, Tuesday Movies, Dance Classes, Sound/Musical Classes, Art Classes, Braiding, Knitting and Knotting classes, Computer Classes, Hobby Classes, Free Seminars, Fun After Fifty, Unwind Your Mind, and so much more!  

Spring invites many fun programs and events to the community such as, Monday Luncheons, Book Sales, Tuesday Movies and much more!

Headwaters Park

Headwaters Park is gearing up for another fun festival season!

Festivals include Greek Fest, Eco Fest, Pride Fest, Big Fort Fest, and so may more!

Riverfront

Riverfront Fort Wayne promises every Fort Wayne resident and visitor an always-evolving opportunity to connect with nature, culture and community. Riverfront is having numerous events such as Yoga on the Riverfront, Dig Day, 5K Virtual Challenge, and so much more! 

 Check out: Riverfront Fort Wayne for additional information.  

 Salomon Farm Park

Keep up to date on events at Salomon Farm Park! The warmer weather is coming back and so are many fun spring events! Make sure to check out Highland Cow Meet and Greet, Sheep Snuggles with the Valais Blacknose, Various Cooking Classes, Goat Yoga, Urban Birding, Full Moon Night Hike, Farming Classes, Art Classes, Cooking Classes, Blacksmith Skills Workshop, and more!

Check out the Salomon link for additional information.

For more information regarding the Sheep & Cow Meet and Greets check out the new Sheep Snuggles & Highland Cow Meet & Greet Blog!

For more information about cooking classes at Salomon Farm Park be sure to check out the our new blog!

Lindenwood Nature Preserve

Lindenwood Nature Preserve is 110-acres of beauty in the heart of Fort Wayne. Explore the park and events coming up soon like the Spring Wildflower Hike, Mother's Day Picnic and Wildflower Hike, Pond Study, Wild Walkers, Stargazing Hikes, Various walks and so much more! Check out the details and info about hikes and other events at Lindenwood Events & Programs.

To learn more about the three Stargazing Nights planned for spring be sure to check out the new Stargazing Nights Blog!

The Old Fort

Events Happening This Spring: 

Muster on the St. Mary’s – A Timeline Event

Saturday, May 10, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 11, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m

Visit the Historic Old Fort link for more details on all the events being planned at the Old Fort. 

We just created a new link (FWParks4FUN) to list all of our upcoming games & activities we will be releasing very soon.  Just added activities include: HIIT Workout, Reset Your Life with Essential Oils, and a Tap Dance Demonstration! Check out this link daily for additional activities and visit a park SOON! 

FWParks @Home 

Are you looking for virtual activities?  We now have a link devoted to all virtual activities whether you are going on a walk, checking out animals, reading a blog, trying a new activity or learning a skill-we've got you covered.  And the best part is we are adding more content often so check out the link! 

Questions?

For questions about any of these activities, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Jerry Fox pictured above with the LSA participants at the 2024 closing. 

2017 Fort Wayne City Golf Championship

Nick Bienz has just won the Fort Wayne City Golf Championship at Sycamore Hills Country Club. Nick started his golf as a young man of 11 at LSA. He had never played golf before coming to LSA. He absolutely loved the game from the beginning.  He progressed thru our program and as a freshman played on the Heritage High School team. He became very good and played in the State finals his Senior year.  He earned a scholarship to Indiana University, Purdue University (IUPUI) where he is entering his junior year.  He worked for LSA his freshman year in college on his summer break.

This is a great day for LSA golf! 

Check out the Journal-Gazette link for additional information on Nick's experience winning the Fort Wayne City Golf Championship!

Doug McKibben Practice Center

To commemorate the 15^thanniversary of LSA and to honor dedicated committee member Doug McKibben, the driving range, putting and pitching green was officially named the Doug McKibben Practice Center at the Lifetime Sports Academy.

“When Tom Jehl and I started the Lifetime Sports Academy, the first person Tom mentioned to join us in developing this program was Doug McKibben,” said LSA Committee Co-Chair Jerry Fox. “Since the beginning, Doug has been instrumental in furthering the development and progress of the Lifetime Sports Academy through his generous donations and counsel during the past fifteen years.  The Doug McKibben Practice Center is a fitting tribute to my partner in the Lifetime Sports Academy.”

Tom & Marg Jehl Day        

On June 20, 2005 Mayor Graham Richard honored Tom & Marg Jehl by declaring June 20th "Tom and Marg Jehl Day." The ceremony included an unveiling of a permanent plaque at McMillen Park's Mad Anthony III's, a par three golf course. 







The LIFETIME SPORTS ACADEMY DOCUMENTARY-"WHERE EVERYBODY WINS"!

The one-hour program tells the story of LSA-starting with the broad-based community support that made the program a reality, to its youthful participants and the positive impact it has on their lives.

Created in 1998, the Lifetime Sports Academy (LSA) is a cooperative effort of the Fort Wayne Sports Corporation and the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department.  The LSA provides FREE golf, tennis, and swimming lessons during the summer months for local youths ages 8-18, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., under the supervision of Academy Director and Wayne High School teacher and track coach, Tom Hogan. Lessons focus on skill development, training, and participation and are taught by certified coaches and highly trained professionals.

The Lifetime Sports Academy is located in the McMillen Park Pavilion just west of the pool (enter the park off Oxford). You may come as often as you wish and stay as long as you like. Special activities such as soccer, softball and volleyball will be organized at various times throughout the week for children not participating in group lessons. The Fort Wayne Community Schools summer lunch program will also be available at McMillen Park for Academy participants.

The Mad Anthony III's Golf Learning Course was built through a partnership with the Mad Anthony Charity Classic for Children.  This par-three course, located at McMillen Park, is available to play for free to LSA students who have passed proficiency tests in irons, woods, chipping, putting, pitching and sand play plus rules and etiquette.  The course is also available to any golfer looking to polish their game or enjoy a round of golf with a young athlete. 

Besides having the opportunity to learn a new sport and meet new friends during the summer months, LSA participants can also earn golf and tennis equipment or the right to participate in local events.  

The program has become a model for other cities across the nation.

For more information, please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 427-6000.

Testimonials from participants and parents 
LSA is an amazing experience for children. Our 4 children had such a rewarding experience. Thank you so much for offering these programs to the children. Tim K.

I get extra copies of your pamphlets each year to give to parents of my Luers Boys and Girls teams (who have younger siblings). I strongly encourage them to take advantage of your wonderful program. I have for years and years. Tom O.

I very much enjoyed learning more about golf. Spencer                              

LSA far exceeded our expectations! There could not be a better program for our community! The coaches, staff and volunteers are all top-notch. My family loves it so much that I took the time to write to the Journal Gazette about LSA. It was a fun program and we are so thankful that our children will have golf and tennis skills which will carry them throughout adulthood. I hope that more families participate in LSA in the future. Everything is well done. We could not be more pleased with LSA. Their coaches are phenomenal! Our kids still talk about how much fun they had with their coaches and friends at McMillen. I’ve shared my thoughts many times (on Facebook and twitter) regarding how terrific LSA is. What a wonderful program for children to participate in. Dana M.

Thank you for teaching me how to play golf. Dalton R.                                                                                                                                         

Free Golf Lessons    

Group golf lessons will be offered on Mondays and Tuesdays with practice opportunities scheduled every day. The golf  lesson program is directed by PGA Professional  and Manager of Golf Operations, Garry Whitacre. Golf instructors are PGA apprentices, experienced coaches and teachers. All necessary equipment will be provided for the group lessons, however, if you have equipment, you are encouraged to bring it. 

You will become eligible to receive free golf equipment, special lessons and playing opportunities once you pass golf skills tests and a golf rules test.     

Free Tennis Lessons

Group tennis lessons will be offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays with practice opportunities scheduled every day. Our team of highly qualified tennis instructors will be led by the Lifetime Academy Tennis Coordinator. Tennis rackets and balls will be provided for the group lessons.

You will become eligible to receive free tennis equipment once you attend seven tennis lessons.



Free Group Swimming Lessons

Swimming

Group swim lessons will be held Monday through Thursday mornings and will be taught by certified Red Cross Learn-to-Swim instructors. All Academy participants are invited to enjoy the water slides and water playground at the McMillen Aquatic Center during Open Swims on Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30 am. 

Pavilion Program

Golf Staff


 

Aquatics Staff




Support Staff


2024 Award Winners

 

Enjoy some additional pictures from the 2024 Lifetime Sports Academy Program!

 

Athletic Programs for Youth

Every fall we offer a wide array of athletic programs.  Select programs are offered year around.  For additional information on offerings per season, check out the Current Fun Times  




Futsal

Futsal, also known as small-sided soccer, is now available at Packard Park. 



Registration for Youth Programs

Ready to Register?
 
Check out information on the Youth Scholarship Program too!

 Soccer is offered for: Mini & Little Kickers, Kickin' Kids, and Big Kickers seasonally.  

We offer Basketball including: Itty Bitty Basketball, Pee Wee Basketball, and varoius basketball programs held around Fort Wayne as well as select basketball programs at McMillen Park Community Center!

Other Sorts of Sports (offered seasonally) include:
Register Now for Summer programming!

Lifetime Sports Academy
Tennis Lessons
Gymnastics & Dance 
Sports Sampler
Other Youth Athletics
Pee Wee & Jr. Golf
Gymnastics &  Dance Classes




Check out Learn to Swim lessons each summer





Adult/Senior Athletics

To check out athletic programs for adults or seniors visit the Athletics page.