Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Foster Park Neighborhood is now part of the National Register of Historic Places, making it the fifth Fort Wayne property or neighborhood to receive the prestigious designation this year. The National Register is the nation’s official list of properties considered worthy of preservation.
Foster Park residents worked with the City’s and State’s Historic Preservation offices to nominate the neighborhood. The project was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund, which is administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.
The nomination highlighted Foster Park as an excellent example of suburban subdivision design during the early 20th century with a variety of architectural styles popular in the 1920s-1950s. The architecture of the neighborhood has not been greatly altered and ranges from craftsman bungalow and two-story colonial revival examples to Tudor cottage and sleek post-WWII contemporary homes.
“The Foster Park Neighborhood is a valuable community asset,” said Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry. “The historic designation serves as recognition of the beauty and importance of the neighborhood and is a great source of pride for residents and the entire City.”
The Foster Park Neighborhood is not the only area to receive historic recognition this year; four other properties or neighborhoods were also listed on the National Register. They include the Lafayette Place Neighborhood, the Ninde-Mead-Farnsworth House (734 E. State Blvd.), the John H. and Mary Abercrombie House (3130 Parnell Ave.), and the Wildwood Park Neighborhood.
“This is by far the most designations we’ve had in one year in a very long time,” said Don Orban, historic preservation planner for the City of Fort Wayne. “Our neighborhoods, ARCH, and local residents have all worked hard to make these historic designations possible and to honor our community’s rich heritage.”
A brochure detailing 18 significant homes in the Foster Park Neighborhood is now available at Visit Fort Wayne, 927 South Harrison St.