2016 Timeline | Upcoming Events | Restoration Projects | Donor Spotlight | News

bFLO Times: November/December ’16 Issue

Once again, it is the time of the year where we gather with our loved ones and come together to create happy memories. The end of the year is also a perfect time to give thanks and celebrate our milestones. We have many to thank, especially our dedicated and committed staff and volunteers. Our success is possible because of these folks. Many thanks, too, to our generous donors, members and sponsors who have empowered us to strive towards our mission and keep our Olmsted parkland beautiful. We have created a note of appreciation to express our thanks, watch it here!

We look forward to a prosperous 2017, and are excited about plans for the 2018: 150th Sesquicentennial Celebration of Olmsted in Buffalo. There are great things ahead! Thank you for your support.

Happy Holidays!

Yours Sincerely,
Stephanie Crockatt
Executive Director

Timeline: 2016

What’s Happening at Olmsted?

Staff Holiday Party
It was a fun-filled afternoon with the amazing Olmsted crew (right)! We thank our staff for their hard work throughout the year. We also wish Patrick Dunlavey and Joe Volino a relaxing retirement after 10 years of service at the Conservancy. Happy Holidays! View more photos at: https://flic.kr/s/aHskNJTv93

Show your support for our crew’s efforts to keep our Olmsted parkland beautiful: bfloparksapp.wpengine.com/support/

Winter Blast at MLK Jr. Park, presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York
Join us on this Healthy Zone Day for winter activities and a skate drive! More details to come.

Date: January 16, 2017
Place: MLK Jr. Park, Humboldt Basin
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

150^th Anniversary: Olmsted in Buffalo
Plans are underway as BOPC prepares for the150th Anniversary Celebration of the historic birth of the Frederick Law Olmsted park system in Buffalo, NY. The 1868-2018 comprehensive effort will commemorate Olmsted’s legacy, with a gift for today and a gift for the future. For more information, please contact 150th Anniversary consultant, Amy Starck, at amystarck@amystarck.com

2016 Capital Projects & Special Initiatives

Our mission guides us to promote, preserve, restore, enhance and ensure maintenance of Olmsted Parks and Parkways in the greater Buffalo area to guarantee Olmsted park experiences for current and future generations. We are excited and grateful to see progress in our Olmsted parks every year.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

Rose Garden Pergola in Delaware Park (Image 1)
Lead: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Image 1: Rose Garden in Delaware Park (Photo credit: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy)

Completed: June 2016
Funding: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the Community Foundation and the Hyde Foundation, Inc.
The pergola was restored to become more historically accurate and weather resistant

Delaware Park Point of the Meadow Gateway Project
Lead: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Completed: June 2016
Funding: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation with matching funds provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee of the New York Power Authority
Pathways and landscape enhancement at the Point of the Meadow Entrance to Ring Road

Playground Shelter in Delaware Park (Image 2)
Lead: Buffalo Kiwanis Club, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Image 2: Playground shelter in Delaware Park (Photo credit: Buffalo Kiwanis Club)

Completed: September 2016
Restored a shelter in Delaware Park at the children’s playground area off Parkside Avenue. The Buffalo Kiwanis Club rebuilt the roof decking, supplied new shingles, replaced missing/broken supports, and straightened the posts and framing
Read more at: https://www.bfloparks.org/bflotimes-sept-oct/

Paving Warren Spahn Way in Cazenovia Park and addition of sharrow markings (Image 3)
Lead: City of Buffalo

Completed: October 2016
Read more at: http://news.wbfo.org/post/city-close-completing-two-way-conversion-pearl-street

Riverside Park – South Loop
Lead: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Image 3: Cazenovia Park. (Photo credit: Stacey Harezga)

Completed: December 2016
Funding: Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee of the New York Power Authority

Riverside Park Tennis Court Reconstruction
Lead: City of Buffalo

ONGOING PROJECTS

Cazenovia Park Shelter House and surrounding pathways
Lead: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Funding: Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee of the New York Power Authority
Restoration of the shelter house is mostly complete
Pathways from the shelter house along Warren Spahn Way to Cazenovia Street to be reconstructed in the spring

Cazenovia Park Casino
Lead: City of Buffalo

Delaware Park – Scajaquada Trail Phase 5 – Rumsey Woods
Lead: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Funding: Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee of the New York Power Authority
Funding to begin the design phase of extending the Scajaquada trail through the Rumsey Woods section of Delaware park and restoration of the Rumsey Shelter House
Image 4: MLK Jr. Park Wading Pool and Casino (Photo credit: Stan Jennings, Jr.)

MLK Jr. Park Casino (Image 4)
Lead: City of Buffalo

South Park Arboretum Feasibility Study
Lead: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

First public informational meeting was held on Dec 15, 2016

Donor Spotlight: Sarah Cotter and family

We are pleased to introduce Sarah Cotter (SC), a donor and supporter of the Conservancy and the Buffalo Olmsted Park System.

Sarah Cotter, her husband, Daniel Cotter, and her kids, Nate & Juliet Cotter (Photo credit: Sarah Cotter)

bFLO Times: What does the Olmsted Park system give to you?
SC:The Olmsted Park System is incredibly important to me and my family, and I believe it is one of the biggest assets our city has to offer. We live on an Olmsted parkway, and go to one of the parks at a minimum weekly, if not daily basis. The parks give me and my family an outlet to enjoy outdoor activities all year long.

bFLO Times: What is your favorite park, parkway or circle and why?
SC: Year round, we love the playgrounds and green space for soccer and other activities. It’s the perfect place to meet up with friends, or to make new ones. Delaware Park is my favorite park because it really has it all — running and biking loop, soccer fields, softball, tennis courts, playgrounds, and who can forget Ashkers! It’s central location that gives so many the ability to experience to joy of nature within a 5 or 10-minute walk from so many different areas of the city.

“Because of how much I love the parks, I know how important it is to take care of them.”

bFLO Times: Why do you think it is important to give to the Conservancy? What do you wish other people knew about the Conservancy?
SC: Because of how much I love the parks, I know how important it is to take care of them. I know that when I was growing up in Buffalo there were areas of the parks that were not so well-maintained. I have really been amazed at some of the transformation the Conservancy has brought to our parks over the past few years. Just last year all the new plantings and work on the facilities around Delaware Park was truly amazing to see. It made me feel proud to bring friends and family from out of town to show them just how beautiful our park system is. I feel passionate about wanting to support the Conservancy so they can continue their great efforts in making our park system the best in the country.

Thanks for Loving Your Olmsted Parks!

We are loving all the beautiful pictures you have been sharing with us on social media. Thank you for your support and keep those spectacular shots coming!