Are you a neighbor or frequent park user of MLK Jr. Park? Learn more about proposed plans for park lighting improvements.
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (BOPC) is conducting a second round of community engagement on the MLK Jr Park Lighting Improvement Project. Based on the input received at the first community meeting in July and online comments, the BOPC and their consultants are proposing lighting improvements at MLK Jr. Park. Feedback on these proposed plans were received through October 30th, 2020. For any questions, you may call 716-838-1249, ext. 31.
Watch this video interview with Greg Robinson, Director of Park Administration, and Brian Dold, Director of Planning & Advocacy to learn more about the proposed plans for lighting improvements at MLK Jr. Park.
Video Highlights:
0:25 – Focus areas identified following the 1st Community Input Discussion on 7/22/20
1:40 – Proposed lighting improvement plan based on the community input received
3:23 – Color options for the light poles
3:50 – Proposed plan for artistic lighting at the MLK Monument Plaza
6:16 – Call for comments
Watch video on YouTube
On the West side of the park, key areas for additional new lighting include:
- Olmsted standard pedestrian poles along the pathway south of the Cottage Garden, at each entrance to the basketball courts, along the pathways adjacent to the picnic shelters and playground adjacent to Best Street
- Olmsted standard overhead poles around the perimeter of the Humboldt Basin
- Replacement of the existing pedestrian poles with new Olmsted standard pedestrian poles
On the East side of the park, key areas for additional new lighting include:
- Olmsted standard pedestrian poles along the perimeter pathways of the park and along all interior pathways, increased lighting at the KaBOOM! playground and at the perimeters of the tennis courts and areas adjacent to the greenhouse
- Olmsted standard pedestrian poles along the natural areas and pollinator garden beside the MLK Shelter House, along Best Street, and in front of the greenhouse and at the MLK monument
In addition to lighting for park-wide safety measures, the following is are some proposed ideas for artistic lighting at the MLK Monument Plaza:
- To shine a spotlight the bust itself, and featured or colorized lighting and stenciled projections of graphics or sayings onto the plaza
- Implement uplights in the surrounding vegetation and casting reflections up the stone wall on either side of the bust
- Implement lit bollards on the pathways surrounding the bust
This improvement project is made possible by New York State Empire State Development: Buffalo Billion II funding.
