Megan Butler

By Hillary Knipstein | Photo by Mollie Shutt

Capitalizing on Fort Wayne’s rivers has been at the center of the city’s downtown development efforts for years. One of the driving forces behind these efforts is Megan Butler, the Program and Events Manager for Riverfront Fort Wayne.

As a teenager, Butler, a Fort Wayne native, couldn’t wait to move away. However, after a brief stint in Boston, she returned to Fort Wayne committed to doing her part to make the city great and helping others love it, too. Her work with Riverfront Fort Wayne is testament to her ability to coordinate with a team to bring to life a vision for a better Fort Wayne.

Her Impact

Butler has had a jam-packed year preparing for the August 2019 grand opening of Promenade Park, one of Riverfront Fort Wayne’s key features. She admitted that the grand opening “consumes most of my waking hours,” and even her dreams, but emphasized that the opening ushers forth an exciting chapter for the city. Opening Promenade Park represents years of hard work and achieving something that hasn’t been done before in Fort Wayne.

Butler loves how her work with the riverfront impacts the community by dispelling negative myths about the rivers and encouraging people to see and appreciate Fort Wayne’s assets, heritage and potential. When people are invited to interact with the rivers in a fun, stress-free way, they start to realize how amazing they are.

She explained, “If someone joins us on a simple boat ride through our urban river oasis and learns about the rich history and diverse ecosystems in and around the rivers, their view of their city is forever changed. I see this over and over again.”

For Butler, seeing people’s attitudes about the rivers change from indifference to enthusiasm goes deeper than understanding the riverfront development’s importance. “They realize the majesty and possibilities of the rivers have always existed, even if they didn’t see it. The lesson: there is beauty and magic in unlikely places, if we’re willing to see it. And, if we see it, we can build a future together based on endless possibility. Our rivers inspire.”

Her Inspiration

Butler’s sons inspire her with their creativity, enthusiasm and sense of adventure.

“They remind me to just have fun and try new things without fear of failure,” she said.

Becoming a single mom seven years ago radically challenged Butler’s world. “Suddenly, nothing in my life was a given—not even food, clothes or shelter. Everything was a struggle,” she said.

Living this struggle helped Butler empathize with the challenges many in the community struggle with every day and inspired her to take bold action in her own life.

“I came to Riverfront because I believe it can represent a free and open center of democracy for our city where no matter the burdens you carry, you have the right to experience fun, wonder, community and love,” she said.” a