McCarthy Park
During a three-hour bike tour with a number of urban activists and factions of BRO and Artvoice, Jay McCarthy (micro-park man) points out a stretch of vacant land along the Niagara River. He turns to Sam Hoyt and says, "You gotta see this." So we all hopped off our bikes (the only way to get there) and filed down a green hill to the edge of the river. We were stunned to see that a huge opportunity for a waterfront park was right under our noses. Before we knew it Sam was on a phone with someone from the NY Thruway Commission. After a ten-minute convo he returned with a big grin on his face. "He's excited", Sam said. "This looks like it could be the perfect waterfront park".
Sam has set up a meeting to discuss the possibility of turning this prime piece of land into a park dedicated to hikers, bikers, and boaters... a car can not take you there. It's a primo spot for boats to tie up to and the view of the Niagara River is breathtaking. It is also a key parcel of land to view the West Side rowers who race along the waterway. Where else can you observe the rowers when they are competing? The real beauty is that the bike trail already leads to this future park. The hill will allow hundreds and hundreds of people to lounge while enjoying the water. What amazes me is that it took Jay to merely point it out to get the ball rolling! Can you say McCarthy Park? For all of you who say that it's just not that easy (I can hear it now), ...I am convinced that this one is that easy.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
The Wait is Almost Over - BR's New Site
As we mentioned in our previous post, we’re in the process of changing the Buffalo Rising site. We’re almost there as we expect to launch the new site on Friday, December 19th.
In the meantime, posting will be light as we log new stories in the new publishing system which will only be viewable when we launch on Friday.
As always, we appreciate our users’ patience as we make this transition but we promise it will be well worth it. With faster load times, a comment view … - Dec 18th 2008, 11:32am
- Continue Reading
- 5 Comments
-
A Kennedy Visits Buffalo
Caroline Kennedy was in town for a visit with our mayor yesterday. A possible choice to succeed US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Kennedy's name has been mentioned along with that of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo) and our own Byron Brown, among others.
Certainly, Kennedy has "been around politics" all of her life, which is to say she was born into a family of politicos and lived in the White House--neither of which would necessarily f … - Dec 18th 2008, 7:55am
- Continue Reading
- 32 Comments
-
Downtown Free Fare Zone May be Axed
Free light rail rides on downtown's above ground section could be derailed thanks to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's budget mess. That is the news coming out of a Buffalo Place meeting this morning. Facing a budget shortfall and reduced State operating assistance, the NFTA is scrambling for new revenue sources and is contemplating charging for rides along the lengthy downtown pedestrian mall.- Dec 17th 2008, 4:40pm
- Continue Reading
- 48 Comments
-
The NFTA Santa Ride
Well it is Christmas time in the city and the NFTA helped put people and especially children into the mood in a very festive and fun way. One of my favorite memories of childhood was taking the train downtown with my grandfather. I would gaze out the windows and watch the tunnel speed by. It always felt like we were going a million miles an hour.
Then there was the ability to stand up and walk around during the ride without the need to be strapped down. It was always a fun time … - Dec 17th 2008, 4:34pm
- Continue Reading
- Join the conversation
Comment Options
greentessier
Newell, do you have a map? Sounds really interesting.
By the way, go to any regatta at the West Side Rowing Club. We certainly can see the rowers from there. However, It would be REALLY nice to have another vantage point, especially a very green one, to watch the competition. The WSRC is one of the true quiet gems of Buffalo, a program that competes with any major or minor program in any city in North America. Look for some of our boats competing at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, along with every serious rowing club in the US and Canada. (Full disclosure: my daughter will be rowing at Henley thanks to the excellent program at West Side.)
Report this
mmKAy?
Is this it, with the Thruway right on top of the embankment? Gonna try a link:
Report this
mmKAy?
That didn't work. Try clicking my name...
Report this
Kevin
I think that is the parcel of land that the Frank Lloyd Wright boat house is planned to be built on.
Report this
BuffaloGeek
It's not that easy,
Hell, someone had to say it.
Report this
greentessier
I'm pretty sure the FLW boat house is going to be built off the big parking lot of the rowing club.
Report this
BIA Mod.
Can we make it NO motorized vehicles or noise-generating devices at all? No motorcycles, no jet skis, no power boats, no radios without headphones? What a great contrast it'd be to the relentless drone of the Thruway.
Let's make this Buffalo's first *audio* preserve, in which the only sounds you may make are the unamplified voice, the foot on soil, the oar on water, the wind in the sail.
If, so, I'm in!
Report this
mmKAy?
The relentless drone of the Thruway overpowers any other noise in that area, so lack of radios etc would make little difference. A Quiet Zone next to a boilerworks. :)
Report this
queenseyes
Actually, you would be surprised at how quiet it really is. The thruway is elevated and there is a natural barrier (hill) that shields from the noise of the cars and trucks. This land is not marked for the boathouse. We also talked about a traffic noise barrier along that stretch which would take care of any sound from the thruway. If you want to check it out, start at the Porter entrance and bike along for a short distance. There is a chink in the fence and a path that allows you to walk down to the water's edge. Right before you get on the bike bridge...
Report this
mmKAy?
We must have different conceptions of "quiet", because I was there around 11am today and didn't find it quiet at all. However, it doesn't matter to me, because I found the whole bikepath-around-a-Thruway experience unpleasant enough that the trip won't be repeated. :)
If somebody can get the Thruway Authority to pay for it & maintain it, might as well go ahead with the idea.
Report this
Huh What
mmkay You're truly an optimist with vision, we're so lucky to have your positive input...please stay here in Buffalo??
Report this
Huh What
mmkay You're truly an optimist with vision, we're so lucky to have your positive input...please stay here in Buffalo??
Report this
queenseyes
OK, I went back again this evening for a walk and checked it out again. It's not silent, but it's not loud either. Put up a sound barrier and we're golden. That land runs right up to the West Side Rowing Club. There's a three foot drop to the water (really nothing) that boats could tie up to (canoes for BIA Mod.)
Report this
mm'Kay?
"huh", let us know when you're ready to buy me out, find me a job in another city, and pay my moving expenses. I'm sure you optimistically rolling in cash.
There's a big difference between being negative and being realistic.
Report this
dumb jeff
McCarthy Park would be a nice tribute to Jay, but there may be some confusion when referring to it as such, since there already is a McCarthy Park within the city of Buffalo, just west of the Amherst Street quarry. Maybe the noise factor of the traffic can be dealt with by installing speakers which would pump in a soundtrack of water flowing and seagulls.
Report this
RDW
Not a great place for boats to tie up. Water is extremely shallow and rocky. It would also block crews leaving from West Side Rowing Club and potential create boat jams on a narrow part of the Black Rock Channel--which is a federal waterway--regulated like a highway. The other uses would be great. May take a little policing early on. I have run through there hundreds of times and there is often a far amount of various petty crime and other shenanigans going on.
Report this
cmmc
I think the micro park system is a great idea. Using undeveloped land (and waterfornt land at that!) for all will only help enhance the community and enhance our greatest asset - the river and lake. Jay, keep up th e good work!
Report this
Mr. Jones
If McCarthy Park (the name) is already taken, I suggest we name it after Buffalo's greatest artist, Milton Rogovin, while he is still alive to appreciate the honor. Unless someone has a better idea for a more urban monument to a quintessentially urban artist.
Report this
M@
Rogovin Park! what an incredible name for that place! it might be a little more appropriate for something in the Lower west side...but hey! what an great tribute that would be!
Report this
sbrof
if it does become a park can we not cut down all the trees to create it. I hate how they essentially stripped the north squaw island area to make a park with little to no shade that now gets beaten by wind cause of the lack of folliage. Why do we develop parks in the same way as office parks?
Report this