Project Description
The new Irishtown Plaza is the newest public space addition to the Packard area. The site is approximately 1.23 acres of land that reimagined the former one-way pair of streets that connected Taylor Street at Fairfield Avenue to Calhoun Street, pushing traffic through the Hoagland Masterson Neighborhood.
The project began in 2020 as a partnership with Fort Wayne Traffic Engineering, the Hoagland Masterson Neighborhood, the Packard Area Planning Alliance, and the Active Transportation Coalition (ATC). The goal was to study the impacts of reducing traffic in the residential neighborhood. After nearly two years of study, the City agreed to remove the underutilized roadway connection and reutilize the space for public gatherings.
Project Phases
Once the City of Fort Wayne Traffic Engineering determined that the traffic did not warrant re-opening the one-way pair, the excess concrete of the Taylor and Masterson extensions was removed and replaced with fill dirt in preparation for a small plaza.
In early 2023, several streetscape enhancements were installed on Fairfield Avenue between Bass and Walnut Streets, and a traffic-calming landscape island was installed where the former turn-lane was located, extending approximately 100' north of the intersection, which will feature a mix of native plants. At the same time, nearly 500' of sidewalk was replaced to support improved pedestrian connectivity to downtown Fort Wayne, and drainage was improved at the intersection of Fairfield and Walnut.
In early 2024, new Irishtown signage was placed at three prominent locations on Taylor and Fairfield, signifying the historic neighborhood settlement established in 1855. While the neighborhood no longer features a majority Irish immigrant population, its history is vital as Irishtown has always been one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city since its founding.
In the Summer of 2024, Irishtown Plaza was enhanced, featuring an installation of new limestone benches, lights, trees, traffic protection barriers, and native landscaping. The goal is to enhance the aesthetics of the plaza based on neighborhood and nearby business input, in addition to supporting a new gathering space for the public.
