Comprehensive Parks and Northwest Northeast Recreation Master Plan Aboite Southeast Fort Wayne Parks and Southwest Recreation Department August 2004 Prepared for: Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation 705 East State Boulevard Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Prepared by: Woolpert LLP 4141 Rosslyn Drive Cincinnati, OH 45209 PROS Consulting, LLC 5525 Georgetown Road, Suite L Indianapolis, IN 46254 Blank page to keep pagination correct Table of Contents Executive Summary “A Bridge to the Future” .......................................................................................................................................................... ES-1 The People’s Plan .................................................................................................................................................................. ES-1 A Need for Balance ................................................................................................................................................................ ES-2 Balancing the System ............................................................................................................................................................. ES-3 Building the Bridge ................................................................................................................................................................. ES-6 Section 1: Community Needs Assessment Introduction and Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Focus Groups ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1-2 Stakeholder Interviews ........................................................................................................................................................... 1-3 User Group Survey ................................................................................................................................................................. 1-4 Citywide Citizen Survey .......................................................................................................................................................... 1-6 Public Workshops................................................................................................................................................................... 1-10 Public Open House ................................................................................................................................................................. 1-12 Section 2: Planning Themes 2.1 Theme One: Rich Tradition of Stewardship .......................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Theme Two: Equitable Distribution of Parks and Services ...................................................................................................... 2-2 2.3 Theme Three: Physical Connectivity .................................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.4 Theme Four: Essential Services ......................................................................................................................................... 2-5 2.5 Theme Five: Social Connectivity ......................................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.6 Theme Six: Economic Development .................................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.7 Theme Seven: Sufficient Funding ....................................................................................................................................... 2-9 Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department • Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan i-1 Table of Contents August 2004 Section 3: Plan Recommendations 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Strategy One: Celebrate the park system’s rich tradition of stewardship. ................................................................................. 3-2 3.3 Strategy Two: Provide an equitable distribution of parks and services. .................................................................................... 3-2 3.4 Strategy Three: Connect the parks through greenways and trails. .......................................................................................... 3-3 3.5 Strategy Four: Establish and define the park system’s essential services. ................................................................................ 3-5 3.6 Strategy Five: Connect the community socially through parks, facilities, and events. ................................................................. 3-5 3.7 Strategy Six: Enhance the park system’s role in economic development. ................................................................................. 3-6 3.8 Strategy Seven: Secure sufficient funding to maintain and enhance the park system. ............................................................... 3-6 i-2 Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department • Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan Table of Contents August 2004 Community Needs Assessment Introduction and finalized based on the review of these public facilities, and programs. The community is discussions. proud of the park system’s rich tradition of Summary stewardship and wishes to build upon this for While all avenues of public input were vital to To ensure that the Fort Wayne Comprehen- the future. Park users and the community-at- the preparation of the plan, the citywide large are generally satisfied with the sive Parks and Recreation Master Plan meets citizen survey offers the best overall the leisure needs of the Fort Wayne commu- Department’s efforts, although there is picture of the opinions of the community. clearly room for improvement. Of people nity, the planning process included extensive Over 800 people participated in the survey, public input. This process was grounded in a responding to the citywide citizen survey, giving the data statistical validity to predict 91% indicated that their top priority for the citywide citizen survey and included a community-wide interest. The focus groups user group survey, focus groups, Department is to maintain clean and func- consisted of 37 individuals, and stakeholders tional parks. stakeholder interviews, and public included 36 people, all with considerable workshops. Information from each source involvement in the parks. These meetings The public recognizes that the Department is of public input was thoroughly reviewed to were by definition special interest meetings unbalanced as it relates to programs, facili- identify the park system’s strengths and that produced diverse viewpoints. The user ties, and the distribution of park locations and weaknesses. These findings, in turn, served group survey covered only organizations types. The establishment of new standards is as a foundation for many of the recommen- currently using parks or facilities. The viewed as critical in addressing the location dations provided in this master plan. results of the smaller group interviews and and type of parks and facilities needed. The draft plan recommendations were the public meetings serve well to color and Design standards are desired to ensure an published on the Parks and Recreation add depth to the results of the survey, but appropriate balance of passive and active website and copies placed in libraries and the communitywide citizen survey documents spaces and the placement of amenities that Department facilities. After a two week the prevailing community opinion. are appropriate for the location. review, a two-day public open house Upon reviewing the findings of the public There is a general consensus for expanding allowed citizens to discuss the plan individu- input process, it is evident that Fort Wayne the greenway system throughout the com- ally with staff and consultants. The plan was citizens desire high-quality parks, recreation munity. Citizens want a trail system that Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department • Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan 1-1 Section 1: Community Needs Assessment August 2004 connects neighborhoods to parks, schools, the community. There appears to be sufficient planning process. A total of four focus and other places of interest in the city and need within the community for a new family groups were conducted involving 37 individu- county. Improved connectivity is also desired aquatic center (indoor and/or outdoor) and als. Meetings were held with the strategic/ for parks and neighborhoods dissected by multi-court field house to warrant a feasibility master plan steering committee, park major roadways, rivers, or other obstacles. study. Support also exists for continued foundation members, current partners, and The strong desire for trails includes trails improvements to the children’s zoo. advocacy group representatives. The same within new and existing parks. agenda was used for each focus group to The citizens of Fort Wayne want a sustain- ensure consistency in the topics covered. Residents are generally