Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s vision for the Buffalo Blueway continues to unfold.
The Buffalo Blueway is a water-based trail system that also connects to the land-based Greenway system.
Currently, there is yet another Blueway site that is being reimagined as a refreshed waterfront destination. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Harlem Road Fishing Access and Boat Launch Site, a popular public fishing site on the Buffalo River in the Town of West Seneca, will soon be the recipient of a number of notable improvements, such as:
- A concrete paddle launch and staircase
- A gravel pathway
- Shoreline vegetation
- Educational signage
- A Blueway marker that is easy to spot from the water
- The second Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible fishing pier on the Blueway
- An ADA-accessible pathway
This Harlem Road Fishing Access and Boat Launch Site joins a number of other elevated Blueway destinational experiences along the Buffalo River, including Buffalo RiverWorks, Wilkeson Pointe, Mutual Riverfront Park, Ohio Street, Red Jacket Park, and Higgins Park. Future Blueway construction projects include a public access site at Seneca Bluffs and installing a Blueway site at the newly reimagined Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park.
The Harlem Road Fishing Access Site is near the transition point between the Buffalo Creek and Buffalo River where it changes from a slower river to more of a large stream.
“Thanks to our partners at Empire State Development, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of West Seneca, our vision and implementation of the Buffalo Blueway continues to expand. This Harlem Road access project will complement the interconnected water trail system of the other Buffalo Blueway sites that have opened or will open soon,” said Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Executive Director Jill Jedlicka. “For over 35 years, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper worked tirelessly to advocate for and lead the partnership efforts that resulted in a restoring a once-dead Buffalo River into a thriving, vibrant ecosystem that is now being activated with recreational activity from locals and tourists alike. Supporting the growth of a sustainable blue economy continues to be a goal of our ongoing environmental restoration work, and by offering universal access to our waterways through the Blueway system, these kinds of projects will continue to benefit local communities as well as accelerate economic activity for the greater WNY region.”
“As we break ground on improvements to the newest Buffalo Blueway site at the NYSDEC Harlem Road Fishing Access and Boat Launch, we look forward to increased public access to Western New York’s greatest asset – its waterfront,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “The Buffalo Blueway has some very serious goals. It reinforces the commitment of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and New York State to the area’s ecosystems. And it connects people to the water, which will ultimately help to inspire and incentivize economic growth.”
DEC acquired the property in March 1992 and officially opened and dedicated the Harlem Road Fishing Access Site on June 14, 1997. DEC has managed and maintained the access site since its opening.
“The New York State Department of environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to partner with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper on this important project that will enhance public access and recreational opportunities in Western New York,” said DEC Region 9 Director Julie Barrett-O’Neill. “DEC acquired the property more than three decades ago and dedicated this access site to retired Regional Director John Spagnoli, who championed a canoe trail along the Buffalo River. Making fishing access and boat launches more accessible for community residents and other visitors is vital to the ongoing revitalization of our waterways by bringing people closer to nature and amplifying the ecological and social benefits of these sites for future generations.”
“This exciting project supports our community and our economy by enhancing access to the region’s waterways and expanding the Buffalo Blueway system,” said Senator Patrick M. Gallivan. “New York State’s investment in this site will help ensure residents and visitors of all abilities are able to enjoy the area’s natural resources and unique ecosystem. I thank Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for its leadership on this project and others in its ongoing effort to restore and protect our waters.”
In January 2017, New York State announced a $10 million award to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper in an effort to expand and enhance waterfront access.
Robert Breidenstein, West Seneca Town Councilman said, “The groundbreaking at the Harlem Road Fishing Access site shows what’s possible when vision and collaboration come together. This project—led by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper with support from Empire State Development and the DEC—will expand access to the Buffalo River and ensure people of all abilities can enjoy West Seneca’s natural beauty. I’m proud to celebrate this investment in inclusion and environmental stewardship.”
Construction is estimated to be completed by this fall.
Fishing: The area is stocked each spring by DEC staff with steelhead from DEC’s Salmon River Fish Hatchery. Fish species, including steelhead and smallmouth bass will naturally gather in the pool areas. Steelhead will begin running up the Buffalo River in the fall months, typically late October, and will be present until the following spring. Smallmouth bass along with suckers and redhorse will move into the stream in the spring months.