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Franklin School Park   

Size in acres: 4.25 acres

Since: March 2016

Franklin School Park is located at 1903 Saint Mary's Avenue. 

History

Franklin School Park sits on the site of the former Franklin School building.  The school was built in 1921  and was last used for students in 1981. Fort Wayne Community Schools sold the building to the U.S. Navy, which used it for a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Center. The Fort Wayne Police Department also used the building until moving out in April 2012, which left it vacant. In 2016, the City demolished the building leaving only the building's entrance arches to be re-used as design elements for the new park. 

Pavilion:

Phase I

The renovation of the arches has been completed.  This phase also includes construction of family restrooms in the pavilion, site work and a new splash pad. 

 
Grand Opening of Franklin School Park Phase 1

Phase I of Franklin School Park opened in 2016.  The splash pad is available seasonally from 9 am-9 pm.  The park is open from 6 am-11 pm daily.  Enjoy the below photos of the completed project.

 

Phase II

 

The photos show the new parking lot and concrete patio with sidewalk as well as the pavilion under construction.  

The inside of the pavilion includes new restroom facilities, a kitchen, and a large multi-purpose room that can now be used as a year-round rental facility.  The renovation also included all new heating and air conditioning so the building can be used all year.  The site work consisted of a new parking lot with lighting, a new concrete patio with trees, seat walls, and a new sidewalk connecting to the street.

       

The new David Hefner Pavilion and the $1.8 million Franklin School Park is now complete.  Read more about the project and all of the neighborhood advocates and community leaders that came together to make this project a reality. 

 
Pictured above: happy campers from Franke Park Day Camp!

Franke Park
In 1921, 80 acres were donated by John B. Franke the president of the Perfection Biscuit Company.  Over the course of 90 years the first 80 acres have flourished into 339.4 acres. Today it includes: the Day Camp, an outdoor theatre, 3 pavilions, a pond, a playground, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, picnic areas, trails, and lots of open space. Over Franke Park’s long history the park has had a number of uses:

• In the early 1920’s the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club attempted to make use of Franke Park but this quickly ended as it was determined to be too hazardous in the summer months.
• A neighbor of the park was asked to remove his cattle from Franke Park before a Labor Day picnic in 1923.
• An Anti-Tuberculosis Christmas Seal Camp which operated for 18 years, ending in 1945.
• In 1939 a small man-made lake was created. It was used for ice skating, ice skating derby, and the Fort Wayne figure skating club in the 1940’s.
• Winter carnivals were also held in the park in the 1940’s.
• The Boy Scouts wished to hold their annual Camporee in 1944.
• The Fort Wayne Women’s Casting and Conservation Club wanted to get involved by suggesting Post War activities and improvements.
• There was a request from Northside High school track coach in 1939 to use dirt areas as tracks.
• The National Guard Units consisting of 300 men used the park for seven days of field training in 1939.
• Around 1946, there were also donations for the pond of ducks and 3 swans.  Two flew away and never returned and it was decided that the future swans would be donated to St. Francis College.
• In 1952 a Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary opened to the public and Fred B. Shoaff donated 54.36 acres to become part of Franke Park.
• In 1961, fifteen flowering Japanese cherry trees were donated to Franke Park by the International Christian University of Mitaka-Shi, Tokyo, Japan. The trees were a symbol of the tenth year of the friendship between Fort Wayne and the University.
• In 1972 the Nature Lodge in Franke Park burned.
• In 2002 after extensive negotiations the Franke Park parking lot expansion was completed, adding approximately 600 new spaces for park and zoo visitors.

This photo shows the symbolic planting of Japanese Cherry Trees in 1961

Franke Park Day Camp

Since its inception in 1946, Franke Park Day Camp has provided unforgettable childhood experiences for thousands of Fort Wayne area youth. With its strong emphasis on nature education and basic camping skills, Franke Park Day Camp provides an environment which fosters cooperation, problem solving and socialization as well as the dirty, muddy, outdoor fun kids of all ages enjoy! In 1988 the program was extended to include 4-5 year olds.  Franke Day Camp was presented with a Citation for Excellence from the Alfred Adler Institute of Fort Wayne in 1996 and is the Fort Wayne Park and Recreation Department's longest running children's program. In 2022 Franke Park Day Camp will celebrate the 75th Anniversary on July 26 from 4-8 pm.  

The Foellinger Outdoor Theatre

The Foellinger Theatre in Franke Park was constructed in 1949 as a gift to the community from Helene Foellinger in memory of her father, Oscar Foellinger, former publisher of the Fort Wayne News Sentinel.  The Theatre was to provide a unique type of entertainment space - an informal, open-air community gathering and performing area, set in a grassy hillside in the park. A fire in 1972 provided an opportunity to make major improvements to the theatre. The reconstruction started in 1975 and in 1976, the present open-sided dome and a new stage house were added through the generosity of the Foellinger Foundation. The theatre seats approximately 2,500 fans. In 1994 renovations included new seating and a new electrical system; funding provided by the Foellinger Foundation. A grant of $200,000 was provided by the Foellinger Foundation and the Theatre purchased a new sound system. 1999 marked the 50^th anniversary of the theatre and another grant from the Foellinger Foundation providing better sound and lighting equipment. Various improvements have been made to Foellinger Theatre throughout the years.  

Look for exciting bands and performances in 2022!  Check out the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre link to learn more.

Diehm Museum

In 1964 the Jack D. Diehm Museum of Natural History was donated and constructed. The museum offered a variety of mounted fish, fowl and other mammals which provided an excellent educational space for nature study. In 1980 Diehm Museum was lost to a fire and reconstructed. In 2011 the Diehm Museum was officially closed.

 The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

In 1952, 54 acres were added to Fort Wayne’s Franke Park to establish a na­ture preserve. At that time animal displays included four monkeys, a black bear, three wild­cats, deer, mountain goats, raccoons, foxes, porcupines, pheasants, ducks, swans, and an American eagle. On July 3, 1965, at a cost of $500,000  Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, comprising five and one-half acres and 18 exhibits, opened to the public. In 1969, Director Earl Wells established the Zoo Mobile program, which visited every third grade classroom in Allen County. By 1982 there were about 550 animals in the zoo, with 12 permanent staff and 50 seasonal workers. Nearly 100 volunteers helped where needed. The opening of the Australian Adventure in 1987 was the crowning event of the year. The zoo broke all attendance records, and received a prestigious award from the professional zoo community. The African Journey’s grand opening in 2009 brought unprecedented publicity to the zoo. Parents magazine named the zoo one of the nation’s “Top Ten Zoos for Kids.” More than 613,000 people visited the zoo in 2009, far out­pacing the previous record of 540,000 guests in 1994.

--To read the entire history of the zoo please visit www.kidszoo.org

 Soap Box Derby Track/BMX

Ground was broken on March 24, 1969 by Tom Chapman, the secretary of Fort Wayne Soap Box Derby, Inc. The first Soap Box Derby was held on July 20, 1969. The competition was available to boys 11-15 years of age. Sixty cars competed for a $500.00 savings bond and a paid vacation for a week to the Derby Downs, Ohio. The winner then went on to compete for a $7,500.00 college scholarship. Just a few years later in 1974 prizes included trophies, Magnavox Color TV, Magnavox black and white TV, radios, t-shirts, and a watch. In 1992 the last Soap Box Derby was held.  In 1994 the BMX track was moved from Rockhill Park to Franke Park which took place of the Soap Box Derby Track. Currently events are held seasonally at the track. For more information about BMX go to the Franke Park BMX Facebook page.

Above shows the near completion of the Soap Box Derby Track in 1969

2022 Testimonials

My 5 year old son loved Farm Camp! This was his first year and on the first day he asked to come back next summer! Laura

This is a great beginner camp for your child's first time at camp!  Everyone is friendly and welcoming! Isabella

This year I have a son in FIT and a daughter in the CIT programs. They love this camp because of all the time spent outdoors, creek time, animal time, etc. and it's very organized structure with flexibility.  We've always been impressed with the counselors too!  Lots of positivity and healthy fun.  Janet

Farm Camp has been an enriching and educational part of our kids' summers for the past two years.  We have nothing but great things to say and can not wait for next year!  Jenna

Testimonials from previous years:

Our kids loved learning about and taking care of the animals, the tractor rides, outside games, and playtime, and just being on the farm! -Jaime M.

We can’t say enough good things! My kids came home with stories, sharing about the animals, crafts they made, and new games! They’re only sad it has to end. -Stacy L.

Both of my kids really enjoyed Farm Camp this year! My daughter attended 2 years ago and said this year was much better! I personally loved how easy drop off and pick up were! The car line was way more efficient than walking my kids inside! I would love to see photos of our kids involved in activities during the week! I think this would help promote the camp in the future! -Jessi R. 

My son has really enjoyed this week.  This is the first year he has done it and he is already asking about next year-great camp well run.  Sahara T.

Jac said "I really loved camp a bunch! I really loved the counselors too, they were really nice! Joy C.

Chris Salomon truly gave the city of Fort Wayne a gift with giving his farm-children are able to experience life like many of their forefathers did, but they will not-it is a true blessing to our community. Monica L.

This camp was a wonderful experience that will stay with my daughter for years to come. Jennifer H.

Farm Camp gives our children life skills on a safe and beautiful farm close to home and without anything "plugged in", thank you.  Rebecca E.

It is fun and you get to do a lot of fun things.  My favorite part was taking care of the animals-especially the little white chicken that is not Rex. (Emma)

My 4 yr. old son really enjoyed the morning camp.  It was great, he got to pet goats, bunnies and even learned about bats, his favorite was the mud puddle day, it was really good. Patricia R.

I love this program.  I travel all the way from Illinois just to do it. Rebecca K.

Zeis Park

Size in acres: .05

Zeis Park is located near the intersection of Spy Run Avenue and Baltes Avenue. For more detailed location information, check out the General Park Map , or Driving Directions.

History

Zeis Park was formally a small grass area with a simple wooden sign reading its name. The Filtration Plant used to have a section of railroad tracks which has since been removed. The sign was removed and the area was constructed as a gravel parking lot. There is a small strip of grass surrounding the lot offering natural open space.

Zeis Park is owned by the City Water Department.