Fort Wayne Parks Build Protected Cycling Routes for Families and Beginners

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation marked 5.8 miles of paved paths in Promenade Park and Johnny Appleseed Park for family and beginner cycling on July 1.

Local trail counts show more households using bikes for short outings as gas prices stay above $3.40 a gallon and school schedules free up weekday mornings. The city added these marked loops after residents requested routes that avoid four-lane roads and steep grades near the St. Marys River.

Two Central Parks Offer Protected Miles

The 2.4-mile loop inside Promenade Park starts at the pavilion on Superior Street and follows the river edge past the splash pad before returning through the lawn. The surface stays level and wide enough for side-by-side riding. At Johnny Appleseed Park, a 3.4-mile out-and-back runs from the parking lot on Parnell Avenue to the footbridge near the memorial grove. Both sections close to motor vehicles from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays under the new summer schedule.

The Fort Wayne Trails Coalition and the parks department installed fresh striping and added four new benches along the Promenade loop last month. Parents can reach the start points by the #2 bus line that stops at Calhoun Street and Superior Street.

Usage Data and Rental Costs

City records list 47,300 trail passes scanned at the two parks between May and September 2025, an 18 percent rise from the same period in 2024. Bike rentals at the Promenade Park kiosk cost $10 for two hours or $25 for a full day, with child seats available for an extra $5. Helmets come free with every rental.

Beginners should arrive before 9 a.m. to avoid the midday heat and carry water from the fountains at each park entrance. Maps updated July 1 sit at the rental stand and on the parks website. Riders who want longer distances can connect from Johnny Appleseed Park to the Pufferbelly Trail at the Ewing Street crossing for an additional flat three miles before turning back.