Wonders within Reach Visits for a Wheelchair Friendly Guide to Fort Wayne

Accessibility is not just a statement or a webpage to Fort Wayne, Indiana it is a mindset that extends from building with Universal Design to adaptive sports, and including people with disability into the social fabric of our community. We are not perfect, by listening, learning, and implementing, we are aiming for continued progress.

We recently partnered with Jennifer of Wonders within Reach and her family on a wheelchair friendly guide to some of Fort Wayne’s great family-friendly attractions and activities. Here are some of the highlights she wrote about on her website, wonderswithinreach.com.

Highlights from their trip include:

Visiting the Fort Wayne Zoo:

"With well-marked paved paths, gentle inclines, and wide viewing areas, the zoo is fully wheelchair accessible. Most animal exhibits offer easy-to-see enclosures from seated or standing positions, and sensory kits are available at guest services.

Even the rides have been well thought out with a wheelchair ramp on the train and to the carousel."

TinCaps Baseball at Parkview Field:

"The accessible seating is on the main level, at the top of the stadium. There’s also a ramp to field level for picnic table seating. This was reserved for a group when we were there. There are spacious, accessible family restrooms besides the general restrooms.

What really made the night for us was running the bases after the game. We weren’t sure how we were going to be able to do this with a wheelchair, but the park staff was eager to make it work. We took the ramp down to field level and they moved some picnic tables to create a wider path. There’s a small ledge (about six inches) to the field, but it was easy to manage with a little help. After rolling the bases, we took the club elevator up to the exit. This was a legitimate VIP experience where we met some of the team. They even ended up giving my son a game bat. Perks of needing the elevator!"

The Bradley Hotel:

"Our accessible room had low bed heights, a roll under sink, a toilet with handles on both walls, and a roll in shower with an easy-to-navigate set up. The spacious design, accessibility, and location made it the perfect home-base for all of our Fort Wayne adventures."

Access to Public Art and walkability:

"Fort Wayne is designed like a massive outdoor art gallery. The city streets are intentionally designed with curb cuts and easy cross walks. It’s an easy city to navigate and it’s compact. We were able to abandon the van for the bulk of our time in the city. Most things were an easy distance from The Bradley Hotel."

Kayaking at Promenade Park:

"River access is down a paved ramp with a low-grade incline. The kayak launch has an accessible bench that extends over the kayak for an easy transfer. Staff provides assistance with sending you off and bringing your kayak in."

Jennifer goes beyond her bucket list favorites to cover even more of Fort Wayne's wheelchair friendly attractions on wonderswithinreach.com

Use our online resources to plan your trip

To make planning your getaway to Fort Wayne smooth and enjoyable, we’ve gathered helpful resources that highlight amenities and accessibility features at our local attractions, hotels, restaurants, and more. Whether you're looking for entrance accessibility, sensory-friendly accommodations, bed heights, or other details, we’ve got you covered.

We know planning is just the first step. Getting here and experiencing it all is where the real magic happens. We hope these resources help you feel confident and excited about your time in Fort Wayne.

Additional Resources