PHASE III - The Nightlife Boardwalk
Target: Singles, Couples, Professionals,
River
Greenway Destination
The Nightlife Boardwalk features fine
dining in several upscale restaurants, nightclubs featuring jazz,
blues, and dancing, as well as a traditional beer garden celebrating
the German heritage in our community. The Boardwalk is conveniently
located near Three Rivers Apartments where many singles, couples,
and young professionals reside.
Extending from the Martin Luther King bridge to the
Historic Old Fort, the Boardwalk is elevated above the floodplain
by concrete columns. This allows Lawton Park to flood during seasonal
deluges, while the boardwalk and its buildings remain high and dry. The timbered facade theme of the Old
Fort Water Park and Shopping
Boardwalk is continued here. The elevated boardwalks have an
added benefit: a person standing in the center of Lawton Park experiences
the feeling of being surrounded by a living, working fort protected from
the outside world. On a clear night, boardwalk strollers may enjoy an
adult beverage on the Riverboat Pavilion overlooking Headwaters
Park and downtown Fort Wayne. This open, two-tiered pavilion is shared by
boardwalk restaurants. Cigar aficionados and smokers enjoy the designated
smoking area on the upper tier. At dusk, gas lamps illuminate the
boardwalk for strollers, while Headwaters Park visitors
enjoy the view of subtly lit restaurants from across the river. Visitors may travel to and from
Headwaters Park via three pedestrian bridges including the Martin Luther
King bridge and Old Fort pedestrian bridge. The Headwaters
Sky Ride is located at the end of the boardwalk by the Historic
Old Fort and provides convenient transportation to the other end of the
Shopping Boardwalk near the Wells Street
Pedestrian Bridge Triangle.
 |
Source: Sky
Ride
Cedar Point
Sandusky, OH |
The
area is easily accessed via the River Greenway walking and bike path which
runs directly beneath the Boardwalk. Riverboat cruises to and from
Swinney, Foster, and Tillman Parks facilitate pedestrian transportation within the
area.
Target:
Tweeners, Teens, & Young Adults
To accommodate the building of the
Nightlife Boardwalk, the existing Skateboard Park was relocated to the
west of Science Central, formerly home to the Fort Wayne Parks Department
greenhouses. This area resides just north of the Bicentennial Park
playground.
The new and improved
skateboard facility now includes indoor skateboard/BMX features for year-round
use. In addition to an indoor rollerblading rink, various ramps,
jumps and obstacles await the serious skateboard/BMX enthusiast. The City of
Fort Wayne trusts that it may soon play host to national skateboard &
BMX competitions. While the outdoor section remains free to the public, an
admission fee is charged for access to the indoor arena. Visitors
to this area will also enjoy the pro shop, paintball and laser
tag, miniature golf, arcades, and seasonal carnival
rides like Monster & Tilt-a-Whirl Overview
Phase
I: Omni Source Property
Phase II: Shopping Boardwalk
Phase IV: Innovation/Progress District (coming soon) |
