Mayor Tom Henry watches the first phase of demolition at Franklin Park School.
The facility will be removed to make way for a new city park. (WOWO Photo)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): A new chapter for an historic school. 

City leaders officially announced the start of demolition for the 93-year-old Franklin School Building on St. Mary's Avenue. Over the next few months, crews will remove the structure to make way for a new city park. The park will bear the name, Franklin Park. 

The park will include a pavilion and splash pad.

The building served Fort Wayne Community Schools through 1981. It later housed the Fort Wayne Police Academy and a Marine Reserve Center.

The first work on the park could start this spring.