On Thursday November 15th, 2012, from 6PM - 8PM, Riverkeeper will be hosting a public information meeting regarding the future RiverBend Commerce Park, located on South Park Avenue. In particular, the meeting will outline steps of the habitat restoration project that goes hand in hand with the dredging that took place this summer. "This public meeting is an opportunity for concerned citizens to review a proposed habitat restoration plan and offer suggestions and comments about the design. Riverkeeper has been working for over 20 years to restore the health of the River after a century of industrial abuse", said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. "In addition, the Project will provide opportunities for public access to the river, while simultaneously contributing to sustainable stormwater management."
According to Riverkeeper, the RiverBend Commerce Park project in question constitutes 4,320 linear feet including 9.79 combined acres of shoreline, riparian and upland habitat areas. That's a significant parcel of waterfront property, and the former home of the Republic Steel and Donner Hanna Coke facilities. The plan is also part of the Remedial Action Plan for the River that's goal is to continue to clean up land and water in order to make the parcel located along the Buffalo River within the RiverBend Commerce Park, and greater South Buffalo Brownfield Opportunity Area hospitable for recreational use. Engineering and design for The Habitat Restoration Project were made possible with funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Additional funds from USDA Forest Service will help to implement Phase I construction.
*A public information meeting regarding the proposed Phase I and II plans will be held on Thursday November 15th, 2012, from 6PM - 8PM at the Valley Community Center (93 Leddy Street, Buffalo NY)
Ground breaking for the project is anticipated in early 2013.
what a reminder of how much we lost in such a short period of time
on one hand I am over joyed we are cleaning our city up and restoring it
on the other...look at the devastation...look at the poverty...look at the population loss...look at the loss of economic activity and opportunity and entrepreneurial pathways our city lost
How does the saying go "shed rivers of tears and buckets of blood" for what we lost along the way...