Director's Page 2024
Check out the progress being made on the new pavilion in Franke Park! Watch the Franke Park Renaissance video to check out all the new improvements to the park!
Welcome to the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department
The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department's mission is to enhance the quality of life in Fort Wayne by providing positive opportunities for leisure time and by being stewards of our park lands, facilities, public trees and other resources entrusted to our care. We believe we enhance the quality of life in our community and are committed to providing the best department possible.
In 2024 our Department is looking forward to the following projects:
Completion of the Comprehensive Plan
The opening of Franke Renaissance
The start of construction on Riverfront 2 B
Master Plan progress for Brewer and Packard Parks
Mechanic Street Bridge
10 new playgrounds throughout Fort Wayne
Additional street trees in select neighborhoods
And so much MORE!
Be sure to check out City of Fort Wayne On The Move with Councilwoman at Large Michelle Chambers Episode 4: Parks & Recreation She speaks with Steve McDaniel, Director and Alec Johnson, Deputy Director of Planning about all things Parks & Recreation! 
On December 4, Mayor Sharon Tucker, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel, Fort Wayne Park Foundation, elected officials, community leaders and neighborhood representatives dedicated the new McMillen Family Pavilion in Franke Park.
The ribbon cutting follows five years of planning and fundraising with stakeholder groups made up of neighbors, BMX, mountain bikers and users of the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Foellinger Theatre and Franke Park day campers.
Interested in learning more about the pavilion? Check out the McMillen Family Pavilion link. 
I was excited to join in the 71st Wassail Celebration at Jennings Center on December 1st! It is thrilling to see such talent being displayed in our Community. If you would like to learn more about programming at Jennings Center, check out the Jennings Center link.
The Unity Lighting celebration was held on November 25th this year at McKinnie Commons. This event is presented in partnership with the Greater Fort Wayne National Pan-Hellenic Council and culminated by the lighting of the Unity Light Display. Check out the McKinnie Commons link to learn more!
Ground Breaking Celebration for Packard Park Renovations
Mayor Sharon Tucker, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel, community leaders, funding partners and neighborhood representatives celebrated the first steps of a reconceived master plan with a ground-breaking ceremony for the renovations of Packard Park.
The ground breaking follows five years of Park planning and public input from the highly engaged surrounding neighborhoods. This $1.9 million project is supported with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and an Investing in Neighborhoods Now grant (INN) by the City of Fort Wayne on behalf of the Southwest Area Partnership. In addition, the renovations to Packard Park were one of the goals in the Packard 2030 Neighborhood Plan.
New Goshen Road Entrance Opens to Franke Park
Includes new bridge over Spy Run Creek, multi-use trails
Mayor Sharon Tucker, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel, community leaders, funding partners along with Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDR) and Great Lakes Commission representatives celebrated the grand new entrance to Franke Park with a ribbon cutting.
The ceremony highlights the major outdoor improvements for phase one of the Franke Park Renaissance Plan and features:
- A new winding, tree-lined entrance from Goshen Road.
- A new bridge over Spy Run Creek.
- Paved, multi-use trail, thoughtful vehicular circulation and connection to residential neighborhoods in the southwest corner of the park.
- Improvements to the mountain bike and hiking trails.
- Read more....
Public Art Commission Sculptures Dedicated in Two City Parks
Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker and Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel were joined by representatives of the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission, neighborhood representatives, city officials and residents to officially dedicate two new sculptures; one in Lakeside Park (1401 Lake Avenue) and the second in Shoaff Park (6401 St. Joe Road).
The sculpture in Lakeside Park called “Crescent Moon Quartet” uses a series of crescent moon shapes to demarcate space and time. The sculpture in Shoaff Park called “Mystery of Continuity and Change” seeks to embody the tension between being at rest and the joy of being active in the natural environment. Both pieces by artist Jim Merz are designed to move with the wind. Read more....
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Community Center hosts the annual Active Aging Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 4, to offer adults ages 50 and above opportunities to demonstrate that older adults can take positive steps forward for their health in a safe, welcoming and enjoyable setting. Read more....
The Board of Park Commissioners, Mayor Sharon Tucker, FWPR Director Steve McDaniel, community leaders, funding partners and representatives of Mount Vernon Park celebrated the beginning of a new era for the neighborhood with a ground-breaking ceremony for the redevelopment of Brewer Park. Read more.... 
Pictured above, Lucky and London-two Valais Blacknose Sheep-at their photo OP! They are now calling Salomon Farm Park home! We will be having upcoming Meet and Greets for exclusive access to these adorable animals! 
We kicked off Senior Games on June 3rd and we are going strong until the Cookout/Awards on June 27th. Join the FUN! 
In mid-June our Maintenance Techs and our MAINTRAC Coordinator had a volunteer day at Camp Red Cedar, a horse camp for disabled kids and adults. They tore out some old posts, built a handicap ramp off the dock so the wheelchairs can get down to the beach, took down some compost bins, and hung a sign above the horse track. I am very appreciative of our employees who assist with various projects throughout the year! 
We are looking for YOU! If you are looking for a spring/summer job ....contact us first! We have numerous types of jobs available. Learn more....
On May 10 we officially opened the NEW playground at Boone Park. We are in the process of refreshing 10 playgrounds this spring. Read more about the Playground Refresh now!
I recently had the pleasure of recognizing our 140 volunteers at the Community Center. We offer may opportunities to volunteer at the Community Center as well as other areas of our Department. Learn more! 
Thanks to our Horticulture staff that recently volunteered at Community Harvest Food Bank. The staff worked in the warehouse sorting food and then finished the day off stocking and organizing shelves in their store.
Engage Fort Wayne is a new platform that was announced at the Mayor's State of the City address in February. We have 6 park projects added and will be adding more in the near future. Check out Engage Fort Wayne to learn more!
We are happy to report our very successful first year of operation of Headwaters Park. We started managing the park the spring of 2023 and after the festival season geared up for the Ice operation.
We held a very successful 2024 Winterval! New this year was the Amazing Winterval Race where 2 person teams completed fun and outlandish timed challenges. At the VIctory Party the top three teams were recognized with prizes as well as additional prizes were distributed for individual team challenges.
Unwind Your Mind is a relatively new initiative to offer activities for those in our community with signs of early dementia. Check out the link to learn more and watch this new program GROW. We now have a Sensory Room available as well at our Community Center. Call 260-427-6460 to find out more.
Do you like to travel? Come with us for an Extended Trip! Check out the complete list of trips and pack your bags!! We will be offering Day Trips in the near future.
If you are looking for something a little different, check out the McMillen Park Community Center! Since it opened on June 7th, 2014 business has been booming. Activities are offered for all ages. Check it out at:McMillen Park Community Center.
Have you visited "Taylor's Dream Boundless Playground" in Kreager Park. If not, round up all the kids in your family and head out for a day of exploring this wonderful playground where all kids can participate and enjoy the many features of this very unique facility. Check out the Boundless Playground link for more information. In addition to the splashpad in Kreager Park you can enjoy splashpads in nine other parks! Check out more about the splashpads or if you are looking for even more water fun...hit the pools this summer! Splash pads and pools are open seasonally.
What about trying a new sport? What about Pickleball? It is often compared to badminton, ping pong and tennis, with its own set of rules. Head out to McMillen Park Community Center and give this sport a try!! Check out the Pickleball link to learn more about the numerous places to play pickleball outside too when the weather permits!
Perhaps FootGolf, Futsal or Frisbee Golf are more your speed? We offer a 9 hole FootGolf course at Mad Anthony III's in McMillen Park, Futsal is available at Packard Park (an exciting, fast-paced small sided soccer game played on a hard court), and additional Frisbee Golf Courses are available at Tillman Park or at Bob Arnold Northside Park (Frisbee golf courses also available at Swinney, Shoaff, and Weisser Parks).
If you love to be outside to walk, run, bike or skate, check out the numerous trails including the Rivergreenway! Rivergreenway Trails start north at Shoaff Park and head south to Tillman. There is also an East/West trail from Kreager Park to the confluence. Learn more about the Rivergreenway Trails
Are you looking for new places to work out that are FREE? Besides the usual places in the parks, we have outdoor fitness parks at Kreager and at the the Community Center! You can drop in and use this equipment free of charge!
Do you enjoy everything floral? Fort Wayne Parks floral gardens have been a destination for over 80 years. Unique and colorful displays are found at four major gardens and smaller garden locations. Lakeside Garden at Lakeside Park is a formal setting featuring roses, Foster Gardens at Foster Park is a show-stopping mix of annuals, perennials, and flowering trees. Freimann Square offers a site for relaxation downtown among beautiful flowers and a spectacular fountain. The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, also located downtown, offers a year-round respite in the indoor gardens with 4 unique displays and 4 floral changes in the Showcase Garden, a jungle experience in the Tropical Garden, and a trip in the desert in the Arid House. The Botanical Conservatory also offers numerous Special Events, classes and more!
Want something to do? Especially outside? Check out the link Meet Me at the Park for additional ideas.
To keep all these parks & facilities looking fresh and operating smoothly takes a tremendous support team. I am so thankful for the dedication our team commits to making your Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation the best it can possibly be. Speaking of our staff, if there is a specific staff person that you would like to nominate, complete the "Caught in the Act" form and submit to us!
Recently we asked for the Community to step up and assist us with the Comprehensive Survey. We are pleased to announce the results of the survey that were presented at the Board of Park Commissioners meeting on June 11,2020. This very positive report will assist us in the years to come as we plan for the future. The Comprehensive Survey is now available to be viewed on-line.
Are you curious about the work at Foster Park? The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department is cooperating with City Utilities in City Parks with the main visible work being done at Foster Park. This work is part of the Tunnel Works Program representing a major part of Fort Wayne's efforts to implement the 2008 Long-Term Control Plan and associated Consent Decree with the US Environmental Protection Agency. The premier project - the deep rock tunnel - will be constructed in the bedrock deep below the city. The tunnel will collect and transport sewage from the combined sewer system to the sewage treatment plant. This sewage would otherwise discharge (overflow) into the rivers when it rains. For more information, please refer to the project’s website at http://fortwaynetunnel.org .
If you are ready to see what we have to offer, you can Register or view an on-line copy of the Current Fun Times.
Once you have explored the parks and recreational areas, let us know how we are doing. Your feedback is very important to us. Please complete our on-line survey. Our overall customer service rating continues to run over 90%!!
We are striving to be one of the best Park & Recreation Department's in the nation.
If you have ideas you would like to share, feel free to reach out to me.
Steve McDaniel, Director
705 E. State Blvd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
Phone (260) 427-6000
FAX (260) 427-6020
