The park houses the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, which is consistently ranked as one of the top zoos in the United States.
Franke Park is home to the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre, a large amphitheater that hosts major concerts and theatrical productions.
The park's Day Camp program is one of the oldest municipal day camps in the country, dating back to the post-WWII era.
The site includes dedicated mountain biking trails maintained in partnership with local cycling organizations.
The park's diverse terrain includes glacial ridges, which provide significant elevation changes rare for the local landscape.
Franke Park is a 339-acre municipal facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, serving as the primary location for the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. The park features rolling topography, mature woodlands, and extensive recreational amenities, including multiple playgrounds and picnic pavilions. A highlight of the grounds is the Franke Park Day Camp, which has operated since 1946. Visitors have access to a network of hiking and mountain biking trails that traverse the park's wooded areas. The park also hosts a significant outdoor amphitheater used for community performances and events. It serves as a central hub for regional outdoor recreation, managed by the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department.
The elevated vantage points overlooking the park's dense woodland canopy.
Explore the wooded trail network to find quieter areas away from the zoo and playground crowds.
Bring bug spray if planning to spend time on the hiking or biking trails during warmer months.
Reserve picnic pavilions in advance if you are visiting with a large group.
Do not attempt to feed local wildlife or stray from marked trails in the wooded sections.
The outdoor theater and specific park programs operate seasonally from late spring through early autumn.
Leash laws apply to all pets; clean up after animals; observe posted trail rules for cyclists and pedestrians.
