Buffalo’s new Reading Park is set to officially open on Tuesday, August 13! This is another win for downtown Buffalo due to the site’s transition from an underutilized space into a celebrated park that revolves around books, reading, families, music, art, etc. Once open, there will be plenty of ongoing programming from The Central Library and other like-minded organizations, that will deliver a wide array of interactive events to the space.
The first event to get underway at the space will, of course, be the ribbon cutting and the grand opening. The activities include:
- 12 noon-2 pm: Bookmaking workshop with WNY Book Arts Center
- 12 noon-4:30 pm: Learn to play chess with Archangel 8 Chess Academy | Activities with Restoration Society Haiku | Writing with Literacy NY Buffalo Niagara
- 1-2 pm: Music fun with Kevin McCarthy
- 1-3 pm: Bookmark decorating with c
- 2-3 pm: Fabulous rhythm with Diaspora Drumming
- 3-4 pm: Project Flight’s children’s author Stephanie Parwulski
- 4:30-5:30 pm: Just Buffalo Literary Center’s Lit City Writing Challenge inspired by the Local Literary All-Stars
- 5:30-6:30 pm: Bring a book for Buffalo Reading Invasion
The event will take place on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Free and open to the public Outdoor activities for all ages, music & food trucks ($). Plus chalk art and bubbles all day with the Library.
The new Reading Park is located at the intersection on Washington Street and Broadway, on the same corner as the library. The Central Library will be open until 7 pm on 8/13, the day of the celebration.
In 2017, it was announced that the Downtown Public Library would soon be home to an outdoor Reading Park, thanks to funding from the national Southwest Airlines® Heart of the Community program, as well as planning/design support from Project for Public Spaces. Since the time of the announcement, The Library has been working with various community groups (including students from the University at Buffalo School of Architecture & Planning) to flesh out the design details, and the way that visitors will interact with the park.