When we talk about Buffalo being a great city, it is assumed that that means year round, not just spring, summer and fall. With the advent of Canalside and RiverWorks, we are beginning to create a winter wonderland in the city. But winter wonderlands are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to living in a four season city.
In the summer, we can walk and bike for miles, without much thought other than simply being happy outdoors. In the winter, with the cold and snow, cities change. Often times, people stay closer to home, and don’t walk and bike as much as they do during the warmer months. That means that our neighborhoods must offer us the conveniences that we desire, that make winter as welcoming as possible.
BetterCities.net has published an article that talks about many of the assets and amenities that cities should provide in order to make them as walkable as possible when the snow is falling. The article talks about everything from protection from the cold wind (houses and buildings), to the proximity of the closest sledding hill or coffee shop. Obviously plowed streets and cleared sidewalks is of utmost importance when it comes to getting people out and about.
When it comes to the City’s aspirations, there is not enough emphasis on creating a year round city. There are fun and exciting ways to take advantage of the great outdoors in the wintertime. Personally, I think that there should be a giant sledding hill built at the Outer Harbor, to draw families from miles around (that’s where we play). At the same time, I agree with the BetterCities.net article that puts a lot of emphasis on ways to improve walkability in our neighborhoods (that’s where we live).
Image: BetterCities.net