As seen in the July/August Issue of Buffalo Magazine:

View From the Second Floor:

MAYOR ANTHONY M. MASIELLO

The City of Buffalo contains some of the greatest urban parks found anywhere in the United States. That fact is supported by the remarkable Frederick Law Olmsted-designed system of parks that stretch from South Buffalo northward to Riverside. The formation of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy has helped restore and rehabilitate these urban oases that provide our citizens with unique opportunities to enjoy natural settings within an urban framework. The Conservancy has worked closely with the city to further enhance the Olmsted system; recently, we agreed to a fifteen-year extension of their formal partnership with the city to help manage and maintain this superb collection of parks.

But the Olmsted-designed parks are not the only parks in the City of Buffalo. Of the city's nearly 1,500 acres of parkland, the Olmsted system accounts for approximately 75% of city parks, but the remaining 25% are significant for the recreational opportunities these parks offer to the neighborhoods they border. In many cases, these parks serve as a pivotal, unifying element to our city's neighborhoods. They are a critical connection between the natural environment and city residents who desire outdoor recreational activities, whether it's passive enjoyment of the space (e.g., sunbathing) or engaging in more active pursuits (e.g., playing baseball).

 

For that reason, my administration has embarked on an ambitious, multi-million dollar park rehabilitation program. With over $13 million committed to this program, the city's parks, large and small, will experience various upgrades and improvements.

From new sports fields in LaSalle Park (which Phase I of the park's overall rehabilitation) to complete overhauls of John F. Kennedy Park and McCarthy Park, we are making significant progress in reviving the functioning aspect of our city parks. And we're not afraid to try new designs or incorporate new elements that were long considered unachievable in urban parks systems.

For example, the new design for Schiller Park includes the introduction of an irregularly shaped pond that will surrounding by land that rises to different heights, in effect recreating a more natural, rustic setting. This design, added to other features in the park, creates a landscape that is more consistent with the needs and desires of the surrounding neighborhood.

The viability and livability of any urban area is closely associated with available open, green space. We are fortunate to have city parks that have stood the test of time and continue to benefit city residents, but experience has proved that these areas are extremely fragile and require vigilant stewardship.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, designed by Olmsted, has lost approximately 70% of its trees since the park was first planted in the late 1800's. Recently, I was honored to join a remarkable volunteer effort that brought city residents from across Buffalo to plant over 500 new trees and shrubs in MLK Park. This type of volunteerism will have a significant impact on our city's parks. But they cannot be one-day, "feel good" efforts. Constant attention and care are what our parks require and if it involves picking up refuse after picnicking in a park, then that serves as a responsible effort on behalf of the park and our fellow citizens who choose to visit the park.

Whether you enjoy solitude of the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park or golf in South Park or play soccer in JFK Park or enjoy Little League baseball in Shoshone Park or play pick-up basketball in MLK Park, the City of Buffalo's urban park system is a treasure we should cherish and celebrate. Because of the dedicated city parks employees and the thousands of volunteers who give their time every year to protect these unique, open land parcels, we can be certain that the quality of life in Buffalo is enhanced greatly by our city parks. Take advantage of them; the parks were designed for your enjoyment and recreation.