Why

Located in the northeast corner of Indiana, Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state, and 85^th largest in the country. As a result, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation manages over 2,700 acres of park land, 87 parks, community centers, family aquatic centers, dog parks, a campground, theater, botanical conservatory, ice rink, and much more. In addition to being a requirement for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant opportunities, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation wanted to complete a Five-Year Master Plan to produce a much more comprehensive capital improvement plan effort.

HOW

Zec Eight Insights partnered with Designing Local for the planning process. Designing Local is a certified woman-owned business that helps communities create beautiful, functional places that engage and inspire. Together, the planning team analyzed park access, ALICE findings, levels of service, operational policies and procedures, financial projections, existing site conditions and constraints, and public engagement findings to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the Fort Wayne parks system.

What

The final Master Plan included the development of GIS base files, five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) project list, along with recommendations for operational investment, GIS management and integration, redefining levels of service, utilization of additional funding sources, land acquisition, and site planning considerations. Recommendations for both the built environment and operational planning enable Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation to be more successful with implementing action strategies and communicating with elected officials, staff, and the public.

Reference
Alec Johnson, Deputy Director
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
(260) 427-6425
alec.johnson@cityoffortwayne.org
705 East State Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN 46805