Fort Wayne's Riverfront District Continues to Grow

Riverfront Fort Wayne is an emerging district celebrating the city’s three rivers—the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee. Promenade Park was the first step toward delivering the riverfront district and features a restaurant, tree canopy trail, kids splash features, amphitheatre, new river docking systems for kayaks and tour boats, yard games, and more. But you’ll soon be seeing the district grow, with housing, more restaurants, and shops that will complement the recreational elements currently enjoyed on the waterways as Phase II of the riverfront project moves forward.

The next phases of the project have been introduced, and Phase II will incorporate the levee, allowing residents to walk to the top and then relax in gathering spaces where they can enjoy the views and access other park amenities. Highlights include space for short-term boat, kayak and canoe docking; a variation of the tree canopy trail in Promenade Park that connects to an overlook deck on the 3^rd Street Pump Station; a wetland path; terraced lawn with amphitheater seating; and space to build a future private restaurant and public restrooms. Construction should start within 12-18 months.

Phase III will begin after Phase II has been completed, and will feature a wetland boardwalk through Guldlin and Bloomingdale parks; a lookout tower that residents and visitors can climb; pedestrian bridge connecting the north and south sides of the St. Marys River; enhanced boat ramp with additional parking; a lawn bowl that could be used for sledding in the winter; a nature play area for children; and recreation areas including basketball courts.

“We are taking the next steps in continuing our commitment of creating a vibrant Riverfront District that will become a welcoming destination for residents and visitors,” said Mayor Tom Henry. “These next phases will build on our extraordinary success with Promenade Park and encourage even more private development in the area.”

Fort Wayne continues to be a top destination for travelers, and has earned national attention including Chicago Tribune’s Best of the Midwest: 10 places to go in 2020; Frommer’s Best Places to Go in 2020; Good Morning America’s 5 Instagrammable destinations to visit in 2020; and Forbes’ US Travel: 25 Best Places to Visit in 2020.