Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, in partnership with the City of Buffalo and the citizen's based "Friends of Broderick Park" are finalizing a Master Plan concept for Broderick Park. The park, located at the foot of West Ferry Street along the Niagara River, is a unique and publicly accessible waterfront asset that is ideal for anchoring and enhancing Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of a necklace of parks and open spaces along the length of the River, from Front Park in the City of Buffalo and stretching north of the Falls.
"Riverkeeper believes that the best projects are those that encourage and integrate public participation", said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. "This is the second opportunity for the public to engage and provide input into the master planning effort that has already benefitted from significant community involvement."
Funding for the master plan effort was awarded by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund, as well as from the City of Buffalo. Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper has worked closely with the City of Buffalo and Friends of Broderick Park to implement this effort, and the consultant team has worked diligently to prepare a Master Plan. Once the design and public input process is completed, over $1 million in park improvements will be constructed by the end of 2013.
The master plan integrates the goals of public education and celebration of the history of the park. The preferred concept proposes additional green space, a re-worked parking layout, an enhanced concession area, an amphitheater and performance plaza, a new family gathering area and shelter, a great lawn and large event space, a contemplative garden, a 'Freedom Walk' to be incorporated throughout the site, and a re-routing of the Riverwalk to create safe separation of activities that enhance both the popular angling area and the multi-modal trailway on the west side of the park. The park is already heavily used by anglers as a popular fishing access to the Niagara River.
The Master Plan is being developed to celebrate the area's history, recently included in the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. In addition, the US Army Corps of Engineers is also performing an assessment of the existing seawalls and exploring opportunities for habitat restoration along the edge of the park.
Almost 100% of the canal dude dedicated to cars only.
"side" not "dude"