Thanks to the Buffalo Expat Network I was introduced to this short and simple, but very nice documentary on Buffalo’s Olmsted designed Buffalo Park System. The film was produced for the Library of American Landscape History (LALH) by Florentine Films / Hott Productions. It was made as the 3rd instalment in an LALH film series titled North America by Design. Buffalo’s park system is said to be the first comprehensive park system in the United States, meaning that it was designed with multiple parks and park linkages incorporated as an integral part of a city, rather than as scattered individual parks. Several cities were inspired to develop similar park systems following the tremendous success of the Buffalo experiment in urban design.
It is a great honor to Buffalo having a prestigious group like LALH recognize Buffalo’s important role in the development of American landscape design. The film includes some wonderful contemporary and historical images. Buffalo has a right to be proud of the wonderful legacy of foresight that brought about its park system. The recognition given in this film should be taken as a call to all in Western New York that these parks need to be restored to their original design. Much of the beauty and grace of the parks have been destroyed for nothing more than faster driving on fast highways. The theft of Buffalo’s parks to shave 10 minutes off of a commute was a terrible mistake that needs to be reversed. The highways need to be removed from Buffalo’s parks and parkways. Watch this film and then call your elected official. Tell them that parks are not empty land in which highways can be placed.