Mike and Wendy Pramik

Special to USA TODAY

The bounty of three converging rivers led Native Americans to settle an area in northeastern Indiana that’s now known as Fort Wayne.

As Indiana’s second-largest city developed, some say Fort Wayne turned its back on the waterfront as many cities do. But that’s all in the past, as our family of four recently discovered during opening weekend of Promenade Park, a $20 million mixed-use development that embraces the St. Marys River and two other waterways, the Maumee River and St. Joseph River.

Located at the north end of the city’s straight-line grid, the community gathering space contains a large public-performance plaza, boating and other water recreation, a tree canopy trail, a kids’ canal and playground, a brewhouse and other amenities.

It’s drawing attention to some of the finer aspects of Fort Wayne, says Rachel Vedder, an architect with Design Collaborative, part of park planner Riverworks Design Group.

“Promenade Park is exactly what Fort Wayne and the people who live, work in and visit downtown needed: a place for fun, entertainment, nature and respite,” Vedder says.

The park complements this compact, attractive and historical city that offers more than meets the eye.

Visitors can enjoy a bevy of cultural and architectural stops, such as the Allen County Courthouse, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Botanical Conservatory and one of the top children’s zoos in the country. Fort Wayne’s Allen County Public Library has carved out a reputation as one of the top genealogy centers in the world. And downtown Fort Wayne is a joy to stroll through, with many vivid murals on its clean streets, and yes, a fort — The Old Fort, to be exact, a replica of a garrison dating to 1815.

So take in the culture, roam along the rivers, learn something about your ancestors and enjoy a tasty morsel from home-grown eateries, including well-loved DeBrand chocolates. Fort Wayne offers an urban adventure in a bite-size package.