Gordie Howe opening puts Historic Fort Wayne in focus
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Historic Fort Wayne. Photos: Annalise Frank/Axios
The Gordie Howe International Bridge's new walking path is bringing new visitors to a historic park — and raising questions about its future.
Why it matters: Detroit has struggled to breathe new life into Historic Fort Wayne, the sprawling military and Indigenous site.
The latest: Within two to three months, the city plans to begin the process of hiring someone to publish a study of possible future uses for the site that respect its history while bringing new life.
- Detroit received federal grants totaling $1.25 million to stabilize buildings from decay. The pandemic slowed some of the work.
State of play: Fort Wayne is seeing more use as the city welcomes people parking there to access the nearby bridge, Crystal Perkins, Detroit's general services director, tells Axios.
- "It's piquing their interest," she says. "I would like Historic Fort Wayne to be a part of that story …"
What they're saying: "How beautiful would it be to get off the bridge, go to Fort Wayne, go to a Detroit gift shop, have a local coffee … see people play soccer," says Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero, whose District 6 includes the park and bridge.
- Studies have been completed and now is the time for action and investment, according to Santiago-Romero.
Yes, but: District residents don't ask Santiago-Romero to prioritize Fort Wayne, she says, partly because it's surrounded by industrial sites.
- She says connecting the park to walking and cycling paths — and other parks — would make it more accessible.
- The area is expected to connect to the under-construction Joe Louis Greenway.
The backstory: Fort Wayne is an old, sprawling military site. Its star fort was built in the 1840s to defend against potential British attacks.
- The roughly 80-acre riverfront park is city-owned, except for a 0.58-acre sacred burial mound site that was returned to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi for $1 last year, BridgeDetroit reported.
Flashback: Detroit tried to redevelop the site, which has more than 20 unoccupied and neglected old buildings, around 2021. People interested in using the spaces included a brewery, coffee roastery and museums.
- Those projects didn't come to pass. Officials had hoped they would kick-start wider interest in the site ahead of the long-anticipated Gordie Howe opening.
If you go: The park at 6325 W. Jefferson Ave. is regularly used for soccer matches and other events.
- Attend a Saturday tour this fall or FrankenFest this Saturday.
- Regular open hours: 6am-8pm through October.