Fix And Free Up LaSalle Park
Over the last few years, sections of LaSalle Park have literally deteriorated to the point that large 'sink holes' are now visible. Down towards where AmVets Drive 'should' meet Lakefront Boulevard, there are sections of the park (along the water) that need to be repaired right away. For years the problem has become worse and worse. There are holes so big that a person or a dog could easily fall inside. Of course there is yellow caution tape flying from the nearby trees, but the tape is all ripped and tattered. The problem runs for quite a ways and has damaged the grass, sidewalks and trees.
I would imagine that since there is yellow caution tape at the site, The City is aware of the problem. So as long as this problem is being addressed (and I'm sure it is), why not take care of the rest of the park too? Instead of just patching up the visible problems, why not look at the park as a whole? For years people have asked why cars need access to the Lake Erie side of the park. There is plenty of roadway found away from the water... it's called Dar Drive. Keep the cars off the water... keep them over towards the thruway. There is even a roundabout to lead the cars back out of the park once they have rolled in. That is where the parking lots are found too. Leave the waterfront to the bikers and the walkers... don't just patch LaSalle… fix it for good.
Have you ever noticed who is driving along AmVet Drive? Last week I saw a guy who pulled up to polish his trophies. Another guy was washing his car. Are these activities that need to be performed along the water's edge? And there are many more activities going on that I won't even mention. Why not make drivers park at designated parking lots along Dar Drive? From there they can walk to the water. Why do all of our lakeside parks have some sort of road running next to them? This is not a heavily trafficked roadway. It's not like people need to get across town and need this road to get there... removing the road along the lake would not compromise any businesses either.
If you want to see a grand vision of the park from a former administration, just click here. There is no reason that this plan could not be adopted by the current administration. At least money could be saved by re-using a former plan that looks pretty well though out.
Below you can see just how much respect the car drivers have for anyone else. This guy uses the entrance to the bike trail as his personal parking space.
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Comment Options
urbanesque
It is a shame that we let Lasalle Park play second seat to Delaware Park. I can find no other reason than the neighborhood that surrounds it. I agree with Queenseyes, we should increase the emphasis on improving this parks and making it a cornerstone of the city. Fix it!
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B_lo_Kingz
The needs a makeover big time. But don' t cut the park off from drivers like the huge mistake at Delaware Park because cause the previledge residents wanted it so. U cut the cars off,even less ppl gonna come learn about the park. People enjoy taking a nice slow ride along the lake. Next thing u know, u'll be asking to cut off the cars at the Marina...how about downtown main street lol.then the outterharbor. That will get ppl to come.
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sbrof
Part of that plan was being implemented. Hence DAR drive and the traffic circle are newly constructed following its plan. If you go to google earth you can see the construction of the roadway sometime around 2005 I think.
Also isn't the roadway closed most of the winter due to ice freezing over the roadway from the river there? Time for it to go. One less road to maintain.
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NateDrag
what's the deal with what appears to be an old boat ramp at the end of lasalle park past the sinkholes? there are some concrete barriers blocking it but i've been launching my kayak there for the past two years - its a great place to launch because you can go up the canal towards the west side rowing club and broderick park, or over towards the marina and the new 'beach', or further towards times beach or up the buffalo river past the naval park - anyways, i always thought it was a good place to launch and it would be nice to not have to dodge sinkholes and slide through concrete barriers to do so - its one thing to allow people to be next to the water, its even better when they can get out on the water
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platt4
Where's the NY Power Authority settlement money? I thought that was to be used for Niagara River Greenway and waterfront projects? Paging Highway Higgins, paging Highway Higgins!
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RaChaCha
Very little happens in Buffalo (or in My Fair City) without a coalition and/or constituency driving it. The LaSalle Park plan is a good one (not sure about the move of the pumping station, though), and now that there is a dedicated funding source for greenway-related projects, it seems there couldn't be a better time for a combination of neighborhood, parks, and waterfront advocacy to go to bat to see it implemented.
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mdc
I feel more comfortable using the park now that the Dog Park has opened. However, it needs alot of improvement. Hello, Mayor Brown are you listening to us. You can probably see this Park out your office window and it needs a major overhaul. How about some garbage cans for one. Repave the road and do other much needed maintenance. There is garbage and debris everywhere and on the boat launch that was discussed earlier. I used to bring my dog to that boat launch but have stopped because I am afraid he will get hurt. This is a Park that is next to Prime real estate property selling for $500,000 and up. Get rid of the riff raff and put a police presence in the park during the summer. How about planting some flower beds??? One more thing, during the Puerto Rican Day Parade last year , I didn't see one police car. We almost got run over walking into the dog park. The next day there was trash everywhere. Someone should make sure that if permits are given for this parade that the park be cleaned afterward. After any other large event like Taste of Buffalo, Allentown Art Festival one can not even tell that an event took place the next day. Why does Niagara St. always look like crap the day after the Puerto Rican Day Parade????
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mdc
I feel more comfortable using the park now that the Dog Park has opened. However, it needs alot of improvement. Hello, Mayor Brown are you listening to us. You can probably see this Park out your office window and it needs a major overhaul. How about some garbage cans for one. Repave the road and do other much needed maintenance. There is garbage and debris everywhere and on the boat launch that was discussed earlier. I used to bring my dog to that boat launch but have stopped because I am afraid he will get hurt. This is a Park that is next to Prime real estate property selling for $500,000 and up. Get rid of the riff raff and put a police presence in the park during the summer. How about planting some flower beds??? One more thing, during the Puerto Rican Day Parade last year , I didn't see one police car. We almost got run over walking into the dog park. The next day there was trash everywhere. Someone should make sure that if permits are given for this parade that the park be cleaned afterward. After any other large event like Taste of Buffalo, Allentown Art Festival one can not even tell that an event took place the next day. Why does Niagara St. always look like crap the day after the Puerto Rican Day Parade????
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Joshua
I come down here from time to time. There is so much potential at this park it is unbelievable. There should even be a narrow road way/with a walkway connecting both sides of the waterfront - LaSalle Park and the Waterfront Village.
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rydog71
Finally an article about LaSalle Park. For years we've been hearing how everyone wants a waterfront park and know one has given LaSalle a second thought. This park, with a little attention could be Buffalo's main waterfront park. Why spend millions of taxpayer dollars to create new parks when the one we have isn't kept up? Let's fix LaSalle.
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Activist
There IS a plan to totally re-do LaSalle Park. It's about five years old and had community input into its design and features. It was really quite beautiful. HOWEVER, everyone is still waiting and the lower west side community has pretty much given up on it ever being developed. Other parts of the city were higher priorities. Ironically, the community's children really don't have any place to play. The community is still smarting from the closing of Centennial Splash pool.
Popular thinking is that LaSalle Park will only get done when people from OUTSIDE the community want it done to their tastes and for their use. PITIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Rez
The big water side holes were caused in the last Lake Erie seiche/high water event just recently. These high water displacements occur regularly and do damage to the park. The most recent seiche rose up Lake Erie over ten feet and had massive amounts of ice that worked like a mini ice age on everything that got in it's way. Yes the holes require filling in.
The ramp in LaSalle Park is not a boat launching ramp. It was built as a ramp for Sea Planes and was a past idea to benefit the city economy that did not work. The blackades at this ramp are to prevent it from being again turned into a stolen car dumping ground and to discouage people from entering the water at this location. There have been a number of past drowndings at this location.
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Rez
The big water side holes were caused in the last Lake Erie seiche/high water event just recently. These high water displacements occur regularly and do damage to the park. The most recent seiche rose up Lake Erie over ten feet and had massive amounts of ice that worked like a mini ice age on everything that got in it's way. Yes the holes require filling in.
The ramp in LaSalle Park is not a boat launching ramp. It was built as a ramp for Sea Planes and was a past idea to benefit the city economy that did not work. The blackades at this ramp are to prevent it from being again turned into a stolen car dumping ground and to discouage people from entering the water at this location. There have been a number of past drowndings at this location.
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RPreskop
The current condition of LaSalle Park is a terrible disgrace. This is a prime waterfront asset with so much potential but it is allowed to deteriorate to a point of being not only unattractive but literally unusable. This park is usually filthy with paper and garbage laying all over the place. How sad. LaSalle would make an awesome summer sunbathing and people watching park. It could also have top notch athletic facilities and more trees. The roadway in LaSalle Park is in horrible shape and sorely needs reconstruction. Also lets get rid of those goddamned overhead power lines and wooden utility poles. Lets also replace all the streetlights. I guess the politicians unfortunately have other priorities so LaSalle Park just continues its rapid, downhill slide.
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avap
We used the park for a family gathering last summer and I was disgusted at the mess that I needed to clean up before I could use the shelter that I PAID to use. So much trash, even used condoms, littered the area all around the shelter. Besides that (I was on edge the entire time wondering if there were any needles or more garbage that I missed and that our guest's kids would find!!) the park worked wonderfully - playground for the kids (though some items were broken and there was graffiti), super easy walk up for my Mom whose legs bother her, easy to find, gorgeous view of the water for the smokers. The space is there and has so many beautiful attributes - let's clean it up and USE it :)
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egm
LaSalle Park has the potential to be an absolute jewel. Where can you get a better view of the sunset? However, the Park falls in the Ellicott district and it seems to get very little attention. My suggestion would be to move the Park into the Niagara District, a West Side focus which would be a better fit for those who care about and use the Park.
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