It’s nice to see so many Natural Regeneration areas in the parks these days. Some of them are fenced off in order to protect them from people who would otherwise trample the growth. Not only do these pockets of the parks not need to be constantly mowed, they offer an appealing greenery not seen in the park system for many years. “Frederick Law Olmsted believed in the restorative power of nature,” Thomas Herrera Mishler, CEO of the Olmsted Parks, told me. “Designing a park system for Buffalonians that would allow them opportunities to escape the urban neighborhoods into a bit of “sylvan beauty”. Naturalized buffers around the perimeter of parklands help to reinforce the sense of leaving the bustle of traffic behind and entering Olmsted’s vision of picturesque landscapes. The natural regeneration area in the parks also represent battlegrounds where the conservancy staff works hard to remove aggressive invasive plants and replace them with a more biodiverse plant community. We strive for beautiful landscapes that we can share with native birds and other wildlife. A taste of woodlands in the city, creating stormwater recharge areas and bands of shade, a respite for all.
These are secure spots where native trees and plants can thrive, while offering protection from the elements. They also offer a place for park animals and birds to seek shelter and raise their young in undisturbed environs. That’s important, because somewhere along the line we lost many of the natural occurring aspects of these outdoor expanses. Someday, if and when the golf course is relocated to a more suitable site, these Natural Regeneration Areas will become even more important and will contribute to the diversity of the parkland – something that was important to Olmsted – quarry gardens over golf courses and parkways over expressways.