Work has already begun on the Humboldt Basin as part of the restoration plan of Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. The concrete has been dug up, leaving a muddy pit in its wake. By this time next year, the basin will be dramatically transformed into a tri-functioning feature that will change appearance with the seasons. The $4,000,000 project is a major step forward in the ultimate vision for the park - other significant changes include restoring the Casino building and the picnic grove. It will be the refurbishing of the original fountain and the Lily Pool that will initially spark the imaginations of nearby residents and visitors to the grounds.
As for the change of appearance and functioning components, the circle will serve as a splash pad in the spring and summer, a shallow reflecting pool in the fall, and a gigantic circular skating rink in the winter. The work signals a very real commitment to MLK Park - a park that has suffered from a major lack of investment in years past. Take the time and visit Humboldt Basin and walk the surrounding grounds... this park has so much untapped potential. Thankfully the potential is finally being addressed and moneys are being allocated to bringing the original historic qualities back to life.
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As for the change of appearance and functioning components, the circle will serve as a splash pad in the spring and summer, a shallow reflecting pool in the fall, and a gigantic circular skating rink in the winter. The work signals a very real commitment to MLK Park - a park that has suffered from a major lack of investment in years past. Take the time and visit Humboldt Basin and walk the surrounding grounds... this park has so much untapped potential. Thankfully the potential is finally being addressed and moneys are being allocated to bringing the original historic qualities back to life.
Speaking of Humbolt, how nice if plans to fill in and green the Kensington Expressway also come to fruition. What a beautiful and integrated neighborhood would result! See or get the bumper sticker: “TAME THE TRENCH-BURY THE KENSINGTON,” (in “Olmstead Green” and “Clean-fill Brown”) http://www.makestickers.com/addtocart.aspx?SKU=90&DesignNumber=100324085904&cid=she1hz45dncxwnamcmn3n155 (This is an independent site, & I get no money from them.)
Would be awesome to re-connect Humboldt Park to Delaware Park again. It may help bring business back to the long gone commercial streets like Genesee, Jefferson, Broadway, William, ect. ...Just a dream.
KeepItSimple is right, they should fill in the trench for an underused roadway. Expressways are for when the other roads are congested. There is no congestion on those roads anymore. The residences on Humboldt Parkway deserve something better than the view, sounds, and smell of a highway a few yards from their porch.
I'm also really excited for the skating there.
Take away the expressway and you will see congestion return to the city streets.
My understanding is that hasn't been the experience in several other cities that have removed expressways. In any event, the city grid is better at dispersing traffic without congestion than dedicated expressways.
It is my understanding that areas that have removed expressways either a) have a decent mass transit system to eliminate the need for car traffic, b) have removed incomplete highways (1.4 mile Park East Freeway in Milwaukee), c) removed severely underutilized freeways (I-290 spur to RFK stadium in Washington DC), or d) did so as a result of a massive disaster that provided the opportunity and luxury to rethink the layout of the city.
I don't believe that the 33 falls into these categories. I would like to see a study on how well Kensington Ave and Genesee Street would handle the 70,000 cars per day that currently travel on the expressway. I would hate to see Buffalo lose one of the true differentiators it has over other cities, the ability to drive on relatively uncongested streets and highways, which allows workers to get home to their families sooner and in a much less stressful manner than many workers experience in other cities.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/24/cities-commute-fuel-forbeslife-cx_mw_0424realestate.html
Well from other research groups in the city last summer, I recall 50,000 cars travel on the 33 daily. That was the same number in the 1950s travelling on Genesee, Broadway, and Sycamore.
The congestion called for it because they projected an increase in population.
In actuality, due to the vacant housing situation in the city of Buffalo, there are less people travelling on those three major roads. Throwing the cars back onto Genesee, Broadway, and Sycamore would probably do more good than bad, and with less congestion.
It's smart urban planning like re-creating Humboldt parkway that would make a metro line or Bus Rapid Transit from the airport to downtown feasible.
some of which sorely need it.