Fort Wayne in Allen County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Headwaters Park
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 30, 2008
1. Headwaters Park Marker
Inscription.
Headwaters Park. . Architect Eric R. Kuhne was commissioned to design a flood control plan that would provide for a park and premier festival center. It could also serve as a model for flood control in other sections of the country. The Headwaters Park Commission was formed to implement and fund the plan that is now Headwaters Park. Construction to develop approximately thirty acres in the “Thumb” began in 1994 and was completed in 1999. There are approximately twenty acres of parkland that lie in the floodplain. About ten acres comprise the festival plaza and parking lots that were constructed on higher ground. Headwaters Park was created by the citizens of Fort Wayne through their donations, ideas, and labor as a means of flood control in the city. Earlier designs conveyed a similar purpose. George Kessler's plan envisioned a green space for recreation in the great bend of the St. Mary's River to absorb springtime floods, as did the park design submitted to the city by Robert Hanna. Mayor Win Moses called for the construction of the park in 1981, one year before the great flood of 1982. In 1984, the Indiana Department of Transportation also developed a plan for the downtown flood plain. Mayor Ivan Lebamoff urged that the City Lights Fund, created from the sale of the City Lights Utility in 1974 to Indiana and Michigan Electric Company, be used for certain civic development funding, including Headwaters Park. Mayor Paul Helmke committed this money along with state funds for land acquisition and building demolition. The Headwaters Park Commission raised ten million dollars from the private sector to build the park and festival center. On October 22, 1999, Fort Wayne's 205th birthday, the Headwaters Flood Control and Park Project was dedicated to the citizens of Fort Wayne.
Architect Eric R. Kuhne was commissioned to design a flood control plan that would provide for a park and premier festival center. It could also serve as a model for flood control in other sections of the country. The Headwaters Park Commission was formed to implement and fund the plan that is now Headwaters Park. Construction to develop approximately thirty acres in the “Thumb” began in 1994 and was completed in 1999. There are approximately twenty acres of parkland that lie in the floodplain. About ten acres comprise the festival plaza and parking lots that were constructed on higher ground. Headwaters Park was created by the citizens of Fort Wayne through their donations, ideas, and labor as a means of flood control in the city. Earlier designs conveyed a similar purpose. George Kessler's plan envisioned a green space for recreation in the great bend of the St. Mary's River to absorb springtime floods, as did the park design submitted to the city by Robert Hanna. Mayor Win Moses called for the construction of the park in 1981, one year before the great flood of 1982. In 1984, the Indiana Department of Transportation also developed a plan for the downtown flood plain. Mayor Ivan Lebamoff urged that the City Lights Fund, created from the sale of the City Lights Utility in 1974 to Indiana & Michigan Electric Company, be used
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for certain civic development funding, including Headwaters Park. Mayor Paul Helmke committed this money along with state funds for land acquisition and building demolition. The Headwaters Park Commission raised ten million dollars from the private sector to build the park and festival center. On October 22, 1999, Fort Wayne's 205th birthday, the Headwaters Flood Control and Park Project was dedicated to the citizens of Fort Wayne.
Erected by City of Fort Wayne and The Shoaff Family.
Location. 41° 5.122′ N, 85° 8.353′ W. Marker is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Allen County. Marker is one of a series that ring the Great Meadow in Headwaters Park. This marker is about 50 feet east of Clinton Street and about 100 feet NW of the Fountain Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 S Clinton Street, Fort Wayne IN 46802, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 30, 2008
3. Great Meadow in Headwaters Park
Several markers along path circling the Great Meadow, looking north with Clinton Street on the extreme left and the Hamilton Women Plaza on extreme distant right of photo. Fountain Plaza area is in right foreground.
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 1, 2022
4. Headwaters Park Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,890 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on March 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on August 21, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 3. submitted on March 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on May 3, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.