Buffalo Rising Online

Sep 11th 2007, 12:22pm By queenseyes

Just around the corner from the Cobblestone District's soon-to-be-restored Fairmont Creamery sits a small section of undeveloped land that will be transformed into a waterfront park. The site sits along the Buffalo River in the shadows of the iconic city grain mills and elevators. It has been a dream of a select few urban and community activists to see this land converted into public access, and one of those predominantly involved, Peg Overdorf, community activist and lifelong resident, shared some amazing news with me yesterday.

"We're moving forward," she said. "We've managed to raise $1.3 million of the total $2.5 million required to complete Riverfest Park. Actually, what is really exciting is the $200,000 that the Wendt Foundation loaned us so that we could finally acquire the property (just days ago). We had secured the money to make that happen, but getting the cash was taking time. 1st Phase of the project can now move forward and we'll begin construction in the spring. That phase includes landscaping the property and building a public amphitheatre (see outdoor seating and stage area in top rendering). We're making a phone call to Artpark for some guidance on that end."

As Peg rattled off her exciting news it was all that I could do to not stand up and give her a high-five. The park will be owned by the Valley Community Association, of which Peg is Executive Director. "This is an example of the community coming together to pull off a project," she continued. “We received funds from [reading] the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, NYS Multi-Modal, Mark Schroeder and the NYS Dormitory Authority, the Wendt Foundation, NYS Canal Corp., Riverkeepers, David Franczyk (CDBGA), the Valley Community Assoc., ECIDA (in-kind), and operating engineers (in-kind)."

As I observed the renderings of the park we began to discuss the second phase of the project, which includes a concessions' building and a business banquet room, both of which will be money-generating components to the park. The renderings that I have attached have already been upgraded, though the dock area is still not definite due to engineers’ boat traffic studies that are currently underway. There are hopes to have a boardwalk at water level - as it stands there will at least be a boardwalk at the water's edge.

Third Phase will include dockside walks/boardwalk and bike paths. Part of the project also calls for interpretive signage. Why? "Because this is the real terminus for the Erie Canal," Peg added. "The boats would come all the way down (past the current Erie Canal Terminus) to the Ohio Basin. Now the Ohio waterway is filled in (the basin is loaded with debris from the Larkin Administration Building) and Ohio Basin is called Father Conway Playground. This is a significant part of the canal system, and that is why we will have interpretive signage to detail the role that this area played in Buffalo’s history." Peg's overall vision for Buffalo Festival Park is to see connectivity to the rest of the developments along the river. Now that the Inner Harbor is on the road to completion, there needs to be a plan for the DL&W Terminal building. Fortunately there is public walking and bike access between the terminal and the Buffalo River... it is just unfortunate that a use has not been found by the NFTA for the cavernous second floor. A designated walking and bike trail must also be added near the Michigan lift bridge. And how ‘bout that missing bridge to the Outer Harbor?

Here's to Peg's Park, and here's to forward movement in a district that continues to pick up steam.

Renderings: Trautman Associates