foster park entrance concepts shown at open house meeting
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation held an open house this evening to unveil two concepts for the new Foster Park Entrance. The City wants your thoughtful input and wants you to vote for the concept you prefer at bit.ly/foster-park. Please do so before February 7 at 5PM!
Both concepts add a new garden maintenance and restroom building. Both concepts replace the current parallel parking along the Park Drive with perpendicular parking. Both concepts envision creating dual crosswalks for pedestrians and cyclists crossing Old Mill Road at West Foster Parkway. And both concepts slightly move the lowest sections of the Rivergreenway from the river a few dozen feet.
What then are the differences?
The “North Entrance” concept moves the existing auto entrance about 100 feet north, toward Rudisill Boulevard.
The “South Entrance” concept moves the auto entrance to a roundabout that will be at Branning, Old Mill, Hartman, and the Park Drive.
Traffic speed and pedestrian safety are always top concerns in Southwood Park. The addition of a park entrance roundabout shows promise on multiple fronts. Moving auto traffic away from the heart of the floral gardens should make it safer for walkers and bikers. A second roundabout on Old Mill will slow traffic that speeds down that road. And the addition of a second roundabout might discourage traffic from “cutting through” Southwood Park between Old Mill/Rudisill and Fairfield/Pettit. For these reasons, I think the “South Entrance” plan shows more promise.
There are probably a thousand questions about park and garden details with these plans. Once the public weighs in and Parks chooses a concept, designers will tackle those important details. Neighborhoods will request updates and opportunities for input as the project moves forward.
Everyone I spoke with is encouraged that the City of Fort Wayne wants to invest in the future of Foster Park. I spoke to City Councilman Geoff Paddock, planners from the Parks Department, and planners from firms that designed the concepts. I spoke with several neighbors, too, including Vincent Serrani. I asked him to share his thoughts with the neighborhood, and he was kind to oblige. We are both glad to share our impressions of this meeting with you readers. Please read what he has to say below.
Don’t forget to share your input before February 7, 2025! Visit this website: bit.ly/foster-park.
Steve McCord, Board President
Here is the letter from Vincent Serrani:
Dear Neighbors,
The evening of January 29th, the Fort Wayne Parks Department hosted a public meeting to share two concepts for the new entrance to Forster Park.
The concepts focus on the area off Old Mill Rd, through the gardens, past the playground and golf course and stopping at the volleyball courts and parking lot.
The North Entrance Concept keeps things similar to what we currently know, with cars entering the park just north of W. Foster Parkway. This road bisects much of the potential green space north of the entrance and the gardens to the south. The dangerous curbside parallel parking will be eliminated and moved to designated parking pods along the main road. A crosswalk at W. Foster Parkway will act as an entrance for pedestrians and bicycles. Trails will be improved and moved to avoid flooding and traffic. A new building for maintenance and public restrooms will be added near the gardens.
The South Entrance Concept moves the car entrance to a new roundabout at Branning Ave. with a separate entrance for pedestrians and bicycles at W. Foster Parkway. This plan includes the new maintenance and restroom building and improvements to trails and parking. Additionally, a parking pod for the tennis/pickleball courts, restrooms, and gardens will be added. With cars entering south and west of the gardens, a larger and quieter green space would be created. Pedestrians and bicycles can enter the gardens and trails separate from cars bring a reduction in conflicts with traffic. This concept has the added benefit of slowing traffic on Old Mill Rd, near the dangerous curve at Lexington Ave. and creates a separate entrance for city utility workers needing to access pumps. The pedestrian crossings at W.Rudisill Blvd. will also be improved.
After talking with park officials and neighbors, I feel the South Entrance Concept will have a more positive impact on our beloved city park and its many users.
Detailed maps and a description of both concepts, along with your opportunity to vote, can be found at https://engage.cityoffortwayne.org/foster-park-public-input-meetings
Hope to see you at the park,
Vincent Serrani
4437 Pembroke Lane
