A new initiative dedicated to restoring Buffalo’s historic vision as a connected city of parks, parkways, and thriving neighborhoods.
The Buffalo City in a Park Collaborative was recently founded by Candace Moppins, Rev. Steve Lane, Jim Gordon, and Marcia Ladiana, former board members of East Side Parkways Coalition. This newly formed group has embarked upon an urbanist initiative that intends to change the face of Buffalo… again.
For decades, we lost our way when it came to stewarding original plans that were formulated by the likes of city planner Joseph Ellicott and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Now, this determined Collaborative intends to right the wrongs that continue to plague our neighborhoods. The initiative will develop strategies that revolve around best practice urban design, environmental stewardship, and community healing measures, which can then be embraced by the community as a whole.
Through public dialogue and community-driven advocacy, the Buffalo City in a Park Collaborative will fight for the restoration of Buffalo’s historic landscape and the reconnection of neighborhoods divided by highway infrastructure.
“Buffalo was designed to be a city where people, neighborhoods, and nature were interconnected,” said the founders of the Collaborative. “We believe that vision remains relevant today. By reconnecting communities, restoring parkways and green spaces, and investing in neighborhoods, we can create a healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous Buffalo.”
The Buffalo City in a Park Collaborative will focus on several interconnected priorities:
- Reconnecting neighborhoods separated by highway infrastructure.
- Supporting restoration of the Olmsted Parks and Parkways.
- Advocating for the renewal of Buffalo’s historic street network.
- Promoting public education and community engagement around Buffalo’s built and natural environment.
- Encouraging public investment that advances environmental justice, public health, and neighborhood revitalization.
Moving forward, the Collaborative will engage with residents, neighborhood organizations, faith communities, businesses, institutions, and civic leaders, to formulate a blueprint that can be used to heal this city’s many scars caused by catastrophic urban renewal efforts of the 1920’s through 1960’s.
“Buffalo’s future depends upon our ability to think beyond division and work together toward a shared vision,” the group said. “We are building this Collaborative because we believe our city’s greatest strength has always been its people and the communities they create together.”
Further details on membership, partnerships, and upcoming initiatives will be released in coming weeks.