Fort Wayne Historic Parks & Boulevard, Fort Wayne IN

For Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation

Heritage Landscapes carried out community-inclusive preservation planning and design guided by thoroughly researched cultural landscape reports for seven historic parks and one boulevard. Our work included:

  • Document park and boulevard history, evolution and current landscapes
  • Inventory dysfunction and access issues
  • Engage community members and stakeholders at public workshops
  • Facilitate community survey input in English and Spanish
  • Itemize and address community issues
  • Develop phased park renewal plans and refine with community input
  • Team with local professionals to aid in resulting projects

These detailed cultural landscape reports were completed through a process of historic documentation, field investigation, mapping, community workshops, user surveys. alternative testing and consensus building. From that broad and deep knowledge foundation, Heritage Landscapes provided recommendations that resulted in implemented designs for the Swinney Park pond and pavilion, Lakeside Park Rose and Sunken Gardens restoration and pond bank stabilization, McMillan Park tree grove plantings, Boulevard improvements, build out of multi-purpose trail sections, and more. An appendix added to each plan provided protocols with aspects of soil management, invasive species suppression, and stormwater management among other sustainable practices. The reports continue to serve as reference and inspiration to enhance the values of this system of public spaces and augment park and boulevard character, use, functionality, and stewardship. Through inclusive, actionable planning, Heritage Landscapes provided solutions for invigorating these historic landscapes as scenic, equitable, welcoming public spaces.

WORKS Cultural Landscape Reports with Treatment Plans for Foster, Lakeside, McMillen, Memorial, Shoaff, Swinney and Weisser Parks and Rudisill Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana

TEAM:

Heritage Landscapes LLC, collaborating with Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, and Allen County Friends of the Parks; for Swinney Pond, with Earthsource 2008

QUOTES:

Thanks for your vision.Our 2014 bank stabilization project at Lakeside Park looks great, the neighborhood loves it. The work has stopped the geese and erosion and significantly increasing positive use. Alec Johnson PLA, ASLA, City Landscape Architect