While Fort Wayne, Ind. golfers provided plenty of feedback during an initial survey on the city-owned course, those who use the two-mile trail around Foster Park did not weigh in. Now they’ll get their chance. The new master plan features a transformation that would include ponds for better drainage, a 23,000 sq. ft. putting course, a 13,500 sq. ft. multi-purpose pavilion, a 4,800 sq. ft. outdoor dining terrace, more parking, and a 300-yard driving range.

When Fort Wayne (Ind.) Parks & Recreation asked for input on how to bring the city-owned Foster Park Golf Course into the future, golfers offered plenty of input, WANE reported. Now, those who use the two-mile trail around Foster Park will get their chance to weigh in.

It seems when the first survey went out, only golfers responded because it was a golf course survey, Steve McDaniel, Director of the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department, told WANE. Last year, the department held several hearings on a new master plan for the course that attracts 60,000 people every year.

The new master plan features a transformation that would level the playing field on the 127-acre course, add two large detention lakes and a large lake between the 14th and 18th holes, WANE reported. There will be ponds for better drainage, a 23,000 sq. ft. putting course, a 13,500 sq. ft. multi-purpose pavilion, a 4,800 sq. ft. outdoor dining terrace, more parking and a 300-yard driving range.

The goal is to renovate the course by 2028 when its 100th anniversary will be celebrated, WANE reported.

Trail users, however, didn’t realize there’d be a realignment of the loop trail through the Oak Grove near Bridal Glen, so it’s back to the drawing board for the project estimated to cost around $13 million, WANE reported. The new survey should be available online in February, McDaniel said.

“We are looking at trying to get more public input, trying to be able to make sure we hear everything from everyone,” he said. “We’re adding additional survey questions that are going to be coming out in the next week or so and then another public meeting.

“From that, we just want to make sure we’ve heard from those people who had some concerns,” McDaniel added. “We want to have an opportunity for people who use Foster Park to tell us what they like about it, what they don’t like about it and be able to take all those comments, and together with our design team, basically, modify our plan. We have to make sure we have the best overall master plan for the golf course and for the park.”

The 255-acre park will be undergoing some construction in the near future, McDaniel told WANE, while the city looks to start fundraising for a golf course that will appeal to golfers for the next 100 years.