Swinney, Lakeside & Memorial Parks
Fort Wayne, Indiana

The City of Fort Wayne features an extensive park system that was greatly influenced during the early 20th century by several notable landscape architects, including George Kessler, Arthur Shurcliff and Charles Mulford Robinson. Swinney, Lakeside and Memorial Parks stand out as historical examples from this period of development, each one exhibiting unique features designed by Adolph Jaenicke, Park Superintendent from 1916 through 1948.

Heritage Landscapes completed cultural landscape reports for the three parks in 2002. The process involved extensive, thorough research that revealed a high level of design detail present during the early years of the parks, and the gradual decline that followed. The research enabled an accurate analysis of the historic conditions of the parks through written narrative, imagery, and period plans. Field reconnaissance conducted by Heritage Landscapes was the principal source for an existing conditions narrative and mapping, which permitted a detailed study of landscape change.

Heritage Landscapes sought to understand the contemporary use of the park through public input in the form of user surveys and a series of community meetings. Key Parks Department staff members were interviewed in order to assess current park programming and maintenance. The public and departmental meetings continued during the exploration of possible treatment strategies, resulting in broad consensus for the rehabilitation treatment approach that addressed the needs of a broad range of users while respecting the historic character of the parks. Implementation, funding and phasing strategies were provided in order to ensure a successful execution of the treatment plans for this award winning project.

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