Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and Friends of the Parks of Allen County are coming together to restore Foster Park Pavilion #3.

The historic stone pavilion in the Foster Park Oak Grove will be fully and accurately restored along with landscape improvements, including a new paved trail connecting the pavilion with the Foster Park walking loop, bank clearing along the adjacent St. Marys River to increase visibility, and accessibility improvements. The original rustic-style pavilion was built in c. 1938 by the Federal Works Progress Administration and the current demand for pavilion space in Foster Park has spurred this effort. Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and Friends of the Parks of Allen County recognize the historic significance of this beautiful open-air pavilion. The restoration, along with other improvements in the park and nearby, will improve connections between Foster Park and park resources and neighborhoods.

“Our organization has a long-standing interest in Foster Park,” said Ed Welling, President of Friends of the Parks of Allen County, “and we are excited to be able to act on that interest by participating as a key partner in this project to return Pavilion No. 3 to its proper role and beauty in the park. We know that Foster Park, which is so loved and well used by the people of Fort Wayne, and especially the surrounding south-side neighborhoods, will benefit greatly from having a third pavilion returned to full usefulness. We especially look forward to the improved links to the Fort Wayne trails system and to the Waynedale neighborhoods to the west that this project makes possible.”

Friends of the Parks of Allen County also acknowledges a generous gift from the Oldenkamp family, which has allowed the organization to be significant partners in this important project benefiting Foster Park.

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel adds, “Partnerships with private organizations like Friends of the Parks of Allen County are key to many of the successful projects we are able to complete for Fort Wayne citizens. We are incredibly grateful to them for their help in getting this project off the ground and we’re excited to see the changes we can bring to Foster Park as a result of this collaboration.”

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and Friends of the Park of Allen County are joining together in a fund-raising effort that will allow the public to become invested in this important restoration project. More details about this effort will be made public soon.