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Fort Wayne South Side Pride Gathers At The Gazebo

By Valerie Caviglia

Lafayette Place Neighborhood gathered at its esplanade to spend time together and meet new people on Fort Wayne's south side Saturday evening.

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    Westley Falcaro, president of Lafayette Place Improvement Association, planned "Comedy and Music at the Gazebo" and wants Fort Wayne to join them at their next event.

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August 29, 2010 Updated Aug 29, 2010 at 3:29 PM EST

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Critics of Fort Wayne’s south side may believe it is no longer a vibrant community with higher crime rates and struggling retail growth. But there are many people who would beg to differ with that critical assessment.

On Saturday, the heat finally gave way to a comfortable evening, just right for outdoor dining. The clear, blue sky was the perfect backdrop for a night full of laughter and music in Lafayette Place, one of Fort Wayne’s south side neighborhoods.

Westley Falcaro, president of Lafayette Place Improvement Association, could be seen buzzing throughout the crowd, saying hello to just about everyone there. Street food vendors settled their carts on the esplanade- the large, grassy area that divides a strip of the neighborhood. Brightly colored umbrellas gave visitors relief from the sun and a shady place to snack on hot dogs and ice cream.

The neighborhood invited all of Fort Wayne to join them for “Comedy and Music at The Gazebo” with performances by Bower North Productions who featured the famous “Who’s on First?” routine, originally performed by Abbott and Costello. The American Legion Band sat in rows near the gazebo and performed swing and big band tunes later on.

“We’re trying to make people aware of the south side and what a wonderful place it is to live,” said Falcaro. “We want to show the diversity of the neighborhood both in the architecture and the people who live here.”

Falcaro refers to the neighborhood as the Esplanade. It includes 440 homes and was developed in 1915. Lafayette Place was the first professionally planned neighborhood in Fort Wayne developed by Lee J. Ninde, president of the Wildwood Builders Company and noted landscape architect Arthur Shurcliff. The neighborhood boundaries include McKinnie Avenue and McKinnie Circle on the north, Lafayette Street on the east, Calhoun Street on the west and Pettit Avenue on the south.

“The Esplanade was created for people to socialize, enjoy themselves and provide them a green space,” Falcaro said. Today, it remains the widest esplanade in Fort Wayne.

“We love the southside and we love Lafayette place. This has been called a hidden jewel,” Falcaro said. “It’s like an old neighborhood where you really do know your neighbors and people really do look out for each other.”

Falcaro is already planning for Halloween activities that will occur a few weeks before the actual holiday in October. Lafayette Place plans community events throughout the year and all are free and open to the public.



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