This past weekend the Buffalo Yacht Club hosted the Lake Yacht Racing Association (LYRA) Annual Regatta – only the second time held in Buffalo in the last 126 years. In order to accommodate the racers, the club added a floating dock system that extended out along the LaSalle Park seawall. The extension was a welcome addition to the park, giving passersby an opportunity to envision what LaSalle would look like if boaters were allowed to tie up. I asked a few people at the club if the dock system was permanent, and the answer was, “Probably not…”
When I inquired as to why the docks would not stay along the seawall, the answer was that The City would most likely not allow for it. Even though it sounded as if nobody had inquired either way, this setup appeared to be a great solution for a club that has been running out of room for both members’ and visitors’ boats. The temporary feature also gave people a nice sight to look at as they strolled along the water’s edge. There could still be areas left for fishing, though most of the fishing takes place at Broderick Park at the foot of West Ferry.
Seeing that there are substantial investments being made at LaSalle, it might be important to include some actual water-friendly features into the concept. LaSalle is the perfect spot for private and public boat tie-ups now that there are amenities such as the Frank Lloyd Wright Boathouse, the West Side Rowing Club and the Junior League Pavilion for concerts.