North Franke Park - Fort Wayne, IN

The area began to be developed at the turn of the 20th century when it grew due to the influx of German and Irish immigrants. The city thrived with jobs in the industrial and railway sectors followed by growth of the manufacturing industry. Innovations, inventions and development in the area are plenty from gasoline pumps, high-fidelity phonographs, the refrigerator, jukebox, calculator and the country’s first municipal lighting system. The first home-video game console was also invented in Fort Wayne.

The country’s first coast-to-coast highway helped Fort Wayne and areas such as North Franke Park grow exponentially. In 1919, the area grew yet again due to the arrival of air transport but was hit hard by the Great Depression in 1929. The post World War II economic boom helped the city prosper once again. Homes began being built and the suburbs and outlying areas of Fort Wayne grew away from rural communities.

There are many choices when wanting to dine out, with pizza, steak, sandwiches, burgers and ethnic food available. Restaurants are centrally located on either Sherman Boulevard at the north end or along North Wells Street.

Mancino’s has a menu that puts most area restaurants to shame. Locals say it has some of the best dishes such as the grilled chicken salad that comes in two sizes served with garlic bread and choice of dressing. What makes the menu so unique at Mancino’s? There are eight different salads, a kid’s corner menu for guests 10 years old and younger and nine easily recognizable appetizers such as chicken wings and nachos. Tuscany bread hits the spot as the pesto sauce, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella are served warm with homemade bread. Ten specialty pizza varieties are available, or you can build your own, but locals say the Coliseum pizza is the “bomb,” loaded as it is with meats such as pepperoni, sausage, ham and bacon. Oven-baked sandwiches are in abundance, and fan favorites such as the choice steak or the pizza grinder definitely hit the spot.

For tasty breakfasts and good Greek food visit Athenian Family Restaurant on West coliseum boulevard. This local favorite has one of the best breakfasts in town with specials including biscuits and gravy with two eggs. Make sure to try one of their famous gyro sandwiches or their lemon rice soup.

Nightlife in North Franke Park can be all about relaxing or living it up.

Early Birds Club has a summer patio with the grill going and plenty of drinks served. Head inside for a light show, and dance to beats from some of the best DJs around. There are VIP lounges and three full-service bars inside the club; this happens to be the only club to have an outdoor area that features live entertainment, VIP cabanas and a landscaped area fit for dancing and mingling.

Eleven miles to the south of the North Franke Park neighborhood sits Fort Wayne-Allen Country Airport, which offers commercial and domestic flights.

Interstate 69 runs along the east side of the neighborhood and is the only interstate to serve the area. Fort Wayne and the outlying neighborhoods do not have an urban freeway system despite the fact that over 85 percent of residents drive to and from work. The Amtrak station for this particular area is 25 miles north of Fort Wayne in Waterloo.

North Franke Park has its mass transit system provided by the Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation, and the system includes 12 routes. CampusLink started in 2009 and now provides free shuttle service to students, faculty and the general public if travelling between certain destinations.

Taxi services can be called for quick pick-up, and Uber has been an increasingly used transit option in the area. Walking and biking around North Franke Park is a breeze with sidewalks, some bike lanes and light traffic. Parking availability should not be an issue for anyone living in the neighborhood; just heed the signage posted.

The best-known park in the area, and in all of Fort Wayne, Franke Park, shaped the neighborhood. The park was originally only 80 acres but grew to over 300 acres to include a day camp, the Foellinger outdoor theatre (constructed in 1948), three pavilions, a pond, a playground and picnic areas and the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. In the middle of the park lies Shoaff Lake, where fish and birds are abundant. Locals like to fish the waters but appropriate licenses are required.

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo has been bringing visitors and locals to its gates since its founding in 1960 when it was only a bird sanctuary. Today, it houses exotic animals from around the world. Families delight in seeing lions and leopards from Africa, kangaroos from Australia, orangutans from the Indonesian rain forests and other animals such as penguins, monkeys and alligators. With over a thousand animals, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo makes visiting North Franke Park area a must.

Annual events are plentiful, but they are usually held in the city of Fort Wayne. There are festivals to commemorate ethnic food and flair and performing arts such as dance and music and art exhibits. Residents in the Fort Wayne area love the BBQ Rib Fest, which brings in over 40,000 visitors, all enticed by the showcase of good food and live entertainment. Other events in the area include the Chili Fest, Bacon Fest, Taste of the Arts and Wing Fest. There are also annual health fairs that include marathons, cycling challenges and more. North Franke Park residents take to the park for the Night of Lights on Thanksgiving eve, which ends in a firework display. Other festivals include the Festival of Gingerbread at The History Center and the Festival of Trees at the Embassy Theatre.

The largest annual event that takes place in Fort Wayne for residents of North Franke Park to enjoy is the Johnny Appleseed Festival. There festival features apple-themed food items, crafts and historical demonstrations. The River Festival also happens yearly, and locals look forward to the parade, hot-dog eating contest, art fair and fireworks.

North Franke Park has a lower cost of living than the city of Fort Wayne by only 0.5 percent, but a 17 percent lower cost than the national average.

Public transit in North Franke Park can surely be a viable alternative to driving, with the cost of a one-way ticket at only $1.25.

For one of the one-bedroom units available in the area residents can expect to pay approximately $472 per month. Local restaurants typically price beer at $2.50 for a domestic brew and $3.75 for an import. And gas prices in the neighborhood are on par with those of Fort Wayne and 2 percent lower than the national average cost.

Residents of North Franke Park tend to do most of their shopping across Interstate 69 at Glenbrook Square. The area is not known for any high-end shops or speciality boutiques, just affordable and well-known brands call the area home. Head to Claire's in the mall for all of your women's jewelry, hair products and other accessories. For the soccer player in your family visit Soccer Plus to get new shin guards, cleats, jerseys and much more. Local grocery stores are situated in the same area as the shopping center, and residents can select among Aldi, Auntie Anne's and Natural Earth Foods. For the farmers market experience, residents of North Franke Park head to the city of Fort Wayne.