2003 Historic Fort Wayne Master Plan (See 3.2: Review of Prior Plans)
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CITY OF DETROIT GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT Project Team Brad Dick Group Executive Meagan Elliott, PhD Chief Parks Planner Timothy Boscarino, AICP Project Director Juliana Fulton Parks Planner Historic Fort Way e A!"isory Co# ci$ Scott Bentley National Park Service Julio Cedano City of Detroit Planning and Development Department Jeremy Dimick Detroit Historical Society Martha MacFarlane-Faes Michigan State Historic Preservation Office Andre Kropacek Historic Fort Wayne Coalition Grand Chief Ted Roll Wyandot of Anderdon Nation Steven S. Rose United States Army Corps of Engineers Eva Torres City of Detroit Department of Neighborhoods Theresa Zajac Southwest Detroit Business Association Heather Zygmontowicz City of Detroit Bridging Neighborhoods TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SECTION ONE: BACKGROUND 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Profound and Diverse History and Significance 1.3 Future Opportunities SECTION TWO: LEGAL MANDATES 2.1 Historic Surplus Property Program and Federal Lands to Par!s Program 2.2 State and Local Re#uirements SECTION THREE: PLANNING PROCESS 3.1 Overvie$ 3.2 Revie$ of Prior Plans 3.3 Stakeholder Engagement 3.' Statement of Purpose SECTION FOUR: CASE STUDIES '.1 Overvie$ and E(amples '.2 Best Practices and Lessons Learned '.3 Key Decision Points SECTION FIVE: VISION AND IMPLEMENTATION +.1 Vision Statement +.2 Management Zones +.3 Immediate Interventions +.' Near01erm Strategies +.+ Long-1erm Direction SECTION SIX: FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 Trees and Vegetation 2.2 Par!ing and Motor Vehicle Circulation 2.3 Adaptive Use and Leasing Program 2.' Star Fort 2.+ Archaeological Resources 2.2 Events Policy 2.6 Funding Sources 2020 Historic Fort Wayne Strategic Plan 1 2.7 National Par! Service Donation 2.8 Management Entity ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND FURTHER READING APPENDIX A: HISTORIC FORT WAYNE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARIES APPENDIX B: TRIBAL CONSULTATION MEETING SUMMARY APPENDIX C: COMMUNITY MEETING SUMMARY APPENDIX D: FHWA AND SHPO MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT APPENDIX E: DRAFT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION APPENDIX F: EVENT REQUEST FORM APPENDIX G: SITE PLAN APPENDIX H: HISTORIC FORT WAYNE DEEDS APPENDIX I: LETTERS OF SUPPORT Photos: Cover, “Tunnel View,” Wes Iversen; Above, Detroit City FC. © se! with "er#ission. This project was made possible by a grant from the National Park Foundation through the generous support of the Kresge Foundation. 2020 Historic Fort Wayne Strategic Plan 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 2020 Hi !"ri$ F"#! W%&'e S!#%!e(i$ Pl%' This planning process is made possible by a grant from the National Park Foundation, supported by the Kresge Foundation. The 2020 Historic Fort Wayne Strategic Plan brings together recommendations of prior planning processes, a nationwide survey of best practices in the conversion of former military facilities and other historic locations to parks, plus lessons learned from a renewed stakeholder engagement effort, and outlines a sustainable path forward for Historic Fort Wayne. Implementation will breathe life into vacant buildings and improve recreational opportunity for residents of Detroit and beyond. $%&'s ()*+ers ,ow buil!in-s with $'''.ye/r.ol! buri/l #oun! in the )ore-roun!. Section One of this document describes the compelling history of Fort Wayne and its present-day conditions and challenges. Section Two introduces the legal and policy landscape that outlines how management decisions at Historic Fort Wayne are made. Section Three outlines the planning and community engagement process that supported this plan, and concludes by relating a mission and vision that emerged from that process. Section Four takes a step back and shares lessons learned from other contexts around the country that juxtapose collections of historic buildings with public parkland. Section Five brings these lessons together and lists specific goals for Historic Fort Wayne with strategies for meeting each goal, and Section Six elaborates on some of the more complex challenges and opportunities. 2020 Historic Fort Wayne Strategic Plan 3 A e! a'd P"!e'!i%) Beloved by the surrounding community for its peaceful, riverfront setting, Historic Fort Wayne has come to serve as a one-of-a-kind venue for a wide range of events from soccer games to historic reenactments to outdoor festivals. The only star fort in the Midwest, the only remaining Native American burial mound of hundreds that once dotted Southeast Michigan, historic military buildings from the Civil War through Vietnam era—all of these, and more, enrich the lives of Detroiters and greet visitors from around the region and beyond. 0'$% P/r1s /n! Re+re/tion 2/ster Fun Fest /t 3istori+ Fort W/yne. Photo: 4i#berly P. 5it+hell, Detroit Free Press. The full positive impact of Historic Fort Wayne is presently held back by its limited public hours, lack of connectivity to other community assets, and a recent history of deferred maintenance of its historic buildings and landscape. The completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge will soon further elevate Historic Fort Wayne to serve as a gateway to Detroit and to the region. This historic riverfront park has the potential to become a valued gathering place for Southwest Detroit residents, an educational and recreational destination for international visitors, 2020 Historic Fort Wayne Strategic Plan 4 and a catalyst for regional economic development—if accessibility to the surrounding community is enhanced and if challenges of long-term financial and operational sustainability are addressed. A P%!h f"# the F,!,#e In acquiring the property through two federal public benefit conveyance transfer programs in 1949, 1971, and 1976, the City of Detroit took on a binding obligation to maintain Historic Fort Wayne for historical interpretation and recreation in perpetuity. Regional stakeholders and governmental leaders, too, recognize the value of the site and encourage its revitalization. Thus, legal mandates, regional interest, and community values, combined, provide us with the imperative to improve recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities for Detroiters and visitors by revitalizing Historic Fort Wayne. Recognizing that the city’s General Services Department is already tasked with maintaining over three hundred city parks, recreation centers, and other public facilities with limited funds, this Strategic Plan recommends a phased approach that attracts outside sources of support over time. Starting with targeted and catalytic interventions, we raise interest and enthusiasm, build relationships and support, and attract sustained investment from public, philanthropic, and private entities over a period of a decade or more. As part of this planning process, interventions considered include expanding park hours and recreational programming, stabilization of vacant buildings, solicitation of support and guidance from governmental and nonprofit partners, and finally, finding new and compatible uses for presently vacant buildings at Historic Fort Wayne. 6e)t to Ri-ht: 3(PE Crew Com#unity D/y in 0'$7; Fourth 5i+hi-/n Com"/ny A Civil W/r reen/+tors. Photos: 8/r/h 5/rie 9/+1son, :P8;:CPTT <CC =>.:C 0.'?, 4i#berly P. 5it+hell, Detroit Free Press. 2020 Historic Fort Wayne Strategic Plan 5 Vi i"' This Strategic Plan charts a pathway for future management of Historic Fort Wayne. The vision statement is developed by city staff based on what we heard from stakeholders and the community, legal mandates and requirements, and the values inherent in the City of Detroit General Services Department and Parks and Recreation Division: Accessibility . Historic Fort Wayne will be open seven days a week, year round, providing Detroit residents with inclusive opportunities for recreational, cultural, and educational activities amid a riverfront setting of profound historic significance. Stewardship . Buildings, structures, and the landscape as a whole will be safe, attractive, and inviting to the public. Historic, archaeological, and natural resources will be preserved to educate and inspire future generations. Interpretation . A diverse and outstanding history—spanning over a thousand years from prehistory into the present—will be interpreted in a way that is meaningful and relatable to all visitors. Attraction . Historic Fort Wayne will serve as a regional park and landmark, and will provide a welcoming atmosphere for international visitors arriving to the City of Detroit, State of Michigan, and the United States of America via the Gordie Howe International Bridge. What about the vacant buildings? Although many buildings are occupied by entities including the Detroit Historical Society, the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, the National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen, or the city’s Parks and Recreation Division, most buildings are vacant. Rehabilitating these with city funding would be prohibitively expensive and would draw resources from priorities including the star fort, potential amenities and programming at Historic Fort Wayne, or other parks and recreation centers around the city. Fortunately, case studies and best practices examined indicate that Historic Fort Wayne is well-positioned to activate vacant buildings with new third-party uses. Community engagement, as well, indicates broad support for finding new, adaptive uses for Historic Fort Wayne buildings. Deliberately curated tenants, selected for compatibility in a park setting, will increase visitation while simultaneously generating revenue to fund a campaign of ongoing stabilization and rehabilitation. Uses must be welcomed by park users and the host community,