Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation was founded in 1863 when Mr. Henry Williams purchased Old Fort Park and donated it to the city of Fort Wayne. Since then, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation has continued to grow by acquiring 85 additional parks including Reservoir Park in 1880, Foster Park Golf Course in 1928, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo in 1962, the Botanical Conservatory in 1979 and most recently Robert E. Meyer's Park. in 2008. This organization does much more for the community than simply taking care of city parks. Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation also hosts many activities in the city, including several different camps for children and young adults. (City of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, 2013) Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation employees uphold four key values ​​that include honesty, teamwork, fairness, and integrity. Having said all of this, the mission of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation is: “To improve the quality of life in Fort Wayne by providing positive opportunities for recreation and being stewards of our parks, facilities, public trees and other resources entrusted to our care.” (City of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, 2013) To make this mission a reality, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation has been involved in numerous projects and activities to help improve the community and environment. A couple of these projects and activities include removing and treating ash trees, extending and adding trails, and children's day camps such as Franke Park Day Camp or City Safari Day Camp. In this area, in recent years, the Emerald Ash Borer has been targeting the large population of ash trees. This insect is a kind of green beetle that burrows under the bark of the ash tree and destroys it from the inside. T...... middle of document ...... ship is open to all residents of the city and county of Allen, 18 years of age or older. The foundation is classified as tax exempt.” (City of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, 2013) A tax-exempt foundation is one that owes no taxes to the government. Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation is doing many great things to benefit the community and the environment. By treating ash, they preserve the beauty of parks like Headwaters and save the city money and energy. The creation of a new trail connecting the University of Saint Francis campus to the Yarnelle Trail will make walking and biking safer for people in the community, as well as promoting a healthier lifestyle. By providing camps for young children, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation gives children the opportunity to learn about the environment and how they can influence it in the future.