With Mayor Brown wanting to take back operation of the City parks from Erie County by the end of the month, the future role of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy remains up in the air. The Conservancy has maintained six Olmsted parks, nine circles and eight connecting parkways for five years and most people agree the Conservancy has done a stellar job. The Common Council agrees.
Yesterday the Common Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Council Members Michael LoCurto, David Franczyk, David Rivera, and Michael Kearns supporting the Olmsted Parks Conservancy and fully endorsing the organization’s continued role as the primary caretaker of all Olmsted Parks, parkways, and related facilities.
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is a not-for-profit community organization whose mission is to broaden awareness of and appreciation for Buffalo’s 1200-acre Olmsted park system. The Conservancy began managing the Olmsted park system in July of 2004.
Through its Plan for the 21st Century, the Conservancy has a 20 year master plan to restore the parks and revitalize the city. The document details 300 projects and $428 million investment to promote, preserve and restore the historic parks for current and future generations.
The Brown Administration insists it is working towards a new agreement to keep the Conservancy and its legion of volunteers on the job. Three weeks and counting.
Entry image by David Torke.