Have you ever played the game Sim City? It’s an interactive simulation program that allows you to construct and manage a city. Sim City has been around for a long time and has gone through many evolutions. The best part of the game is that it allows us all to become urban planners – good or bad – in order to attempt to create our dream cities. Most of us would never know where to begin if someone asked us to create a real life city… or even part of one.
Community activist, Peg Overdorf (Valley Community Center), has been busy creating her own Sim City right here in Buffalo. She started with River Fest Park on the Buffalo River – a place that has already surpassed all expectations. You would think that that would be enough… that Peg would hang her hat on the project and let someone else run with the ball. Nope. Peg is energized. So energized that she’s taking the Buffalo River by storm, literally transforming dormant parcels of land into public access points, all interconnected by bike trails. To start, Peg is planning on landscaping an untended triangular median next to River Fest Park where a digital sign will one day announce the arrival times of freighters. That’s just the beginning.
Not far from River Fest Park on Ohio Street is a plot of land located directly next to the Ohio Street Bridge. That’s where she’s conversing with adjacent property owner Bison City Rod and Gun Club and the City of Buffalo to build a landscaped river overlook with park benches and flowers. There are some old sheds located on the property (owned by The City) that would need to be removed – not a hard task, but still in need of participation from The City. From there, Peg is looking at procuring land for a bike trail that would run along South Street and the Buffalo River where ‘Elevator Alley’ is located. She has identified parcels along the route that would be perfect for cleaning up for use as river observation points.
^Clockwise starting top left: Identifying possible bike trail along Elevator Alley. The Angry Bees leave the hive in Allentown every Wednesday in search of nectar at McCarthy’s in the old First Ward. Future observation point at corner of South and Hamburg. Potential park identified next to Ohio Street Bridge if shacks are eliminated.
At the corner of South and Hamburg, at the site of a former rowing club (long gone), a foundation for a building is being laid. This is where a replica of the old rowing boathouse is being constructed, along with a museum dedicated to the history of the neighborhood. There will also be a concession stand at the museum. To sweeten the pot, a small craft launch is being constructed where kayakers will be able to place their crafts on rails and effortlessly glide into the waters of the Buffalo River. Kayak and canoe storage is also a key component to this plan. A rain garden, landscaped trees, and Medina sandstone features along with plenty of green space will turn this park into one of the more unique waterfront destinations around. Nearby a small amphitheater with stage is being designed. This is the same place where the ice boom is now being stored. It’s also where the ‘G’ tugs are docked – Peg even fought to keep the tugs at that location to add to the historic surroundings. Down the road, Peg is hoping that The City will give permission to add docking for motorboats – a small ask when compared to the magnitude and scale of what is being created.
It is these types of initiatives that are changing the landscape of our waterfront. Soon all of these parks, including the ones found at the Outer Harbor, will be connected by bike lanes, allowing people to spend an entire day exploring, boating and lounging amongst the backdrop of Buffalo’s industrial heritage. Combined with businesses that are already located within the old First Ward, such as McCarthy’s, Cooks and Swannie House, these waterfront advancements are a welcome change to the previous ‘don’t rock the boat’ mentality. This new grassroots model is working – it’s a dream that goes beyond Sim City and continues to unfold in front of our eyes thanks to the determination of a woman who will not take ‘no’ for an answer.