Status Conferred on Parks 100+ Years

In a special 100th birthday celebration at Lakeside Park, Mayor Tom Henry was joined today by Director of Parks & Recreation, Al Moll and park advocates as they kick off a campaign for public support.

“In honor of our City'€™s past, and in an effort to be good stewards of our parks for the future, we are celebrating a status of Legacy Park for Lakeside and ten other parks that have reached 100 years or more,” said Mayor Henry. “I'€™d like to call on all citizens to join us as care takers of our heritage and enjoin them to take this opportunity to donate to our Legacy Parks Trust.”

Lakeside Park (23.81 acres), which is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, joins the following parks (with establishment dates) as a Legacy Park:

Old Fort  (1863)
Clay & Main St.

Moody  (1864)
College & Jones

Lawton (1866)
1900 Clinton & Fourth

Swinney (1869)
1600 W. Jefferson Blvd.

Nuckols Memorial (1876)  

Jefferson & Harmar

McCulloch (1864)
Broadway &
Parkview

Reservoir (1880)

2300 Clinton

Williams (1890)
Calhoun & Wildwood

 

Orff (1892)
Main & Rockhill

 

Rockhill (1908)

Catalpa & W. Jefferson

 



In a special challenge, Moll announced up to a $50,000 match for new private donations coming into the trust. “The Department will match, dollar-for-dollar, the first $50,000 in contributions from the public,” he said. “The funds will come from past private donations that are currently held in the Park Trust account.”

Today'€™s announced Legacy Parks include those that are often overlooked (Orff - the City'€™s smallest park at .02 acres) to perhaps one of the most beloved parks (Swinney at 94.54 acres). All these parks have unique histories that need the public'€™s help in preservation, appreciation and donations.

“This new designation of '€˜Legacy Park'€™ is to bring attention to the parks that have reached the centennial milestone, but also to offer citizens the chance to contribute to a trust fund that will help maintain our heritage,” said Moll. “Without contributions from the public, the Parks and Recreation Department would not be able to do many of the things it does so well. The Legacy Park Trust is another option for people who wish to donate funds that will preserve these cherished parks for future generations.”

A unique logo to indicate the Legacy Park status will be attached to signs in the near future. The Parks Legacy Committee worked with the Department to create this new sign at Lakeside Park.
 
For more information on donations to the Board of Parks Commissioners and Legacy Parks '€“ visit www.fortwayneparks.org or call
427-6000.