MEDIA ADVISORY
PR CONTACT | Sarah Larkin, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Sarah@bfloparks.org | 716.861.0716
Who:
Stephanie Crockatt, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
Julie R. Snyder, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York
Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr., Masten District Common Council Member
What:
Celebrate the start of summer and school summer vacation at the annual opening of the MLK Jr. Park splash pad. Activities include; BlueCross BlueShield Healthy Zone Cruiser, splash pad activities (weather dependent), face-painting, fitness fun and healthy snacks. This event is free and open to the public.
Where:
Martin Luther King Jr. Park Splash Pad (by the MLK Casino)
Best Street and Fillmore Avenue
When:
Saturday, June 29th
11:00am – 1:00pm Event Activities
11:30am Press Conference
Why:
Together in its public-private partnership with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Mayor Byron W. Brown and the City of Buffalo spearheaded the $4.5 million all-season water attraction restoration in MLK Jr. Park. In 2011, corporate partner BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York joined this amazing park effort with an unprecedented $1-million-dollar commitment to the Conservancy for the splash pad and its promotion to the community. This five-acre splash pad, a designated BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York Healthy Zone, officially opened during the summer of 2013. It is a reflecting pool during the spring and fall and an ice rink during the winter.
The splash pad will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. through Labor Day, weather dependent. For any inquiries on the splash pad, please contact Patty Wolfsohn with the Conservancy at 716-838-1249, ext. 11.
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About the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is the first nonprofit organization in the nation to manage and operate an entire urban park system consisting of more than 850 acres of beautifully designed historic parks, parkways and circles. The Conservancy is an independent not-for-profit, community organization whose mission is to promote, preserve, restore, enhance, and maintain the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks and parkways in the Greater Buffalo area for current and future generations. More than 2.5 million visits occur in Buffalo’s Olmsted Park system annually for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation. Designed by America’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted more than 150 years ago, it’s our nation’s first urban park system. Since the 2004 groundbreaking public-private partnership between the Conservancy, City of Buffalo and Erie County, the Conservancy has held responsibility for the management and care of these nationally registered historic green spaces and continues today to assist the City in bringing recognition to its collective renaissance. Most recently, the American Planning Association recognized Delaware Park as one of the 2014 Great Places in America, The Guardian publication named Buffalo’s Olmsted park system as one of the best park systems in the world, and in 2018 the Conservancy set a Guinness World Record in historic Bidwell Parkway. www.bfloparks.org
The Buffalo Olmsted Park System includes:
Six parks: Cazenovia Park, Delaware Park, Front Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, Riverside Park at, and South Park
Seven parkways: Bidwell, Chapin, Lincoln, McKinley, Porter, Red Jacket, and Richmond
Eight landscaped traffic circles: Agassiz, Colonial, Ferry, Gates, McClellan, McKinley, Soldiers, and Symphony
About BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York
BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York is a division of HealthNow New York Inc., an independent Licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. Since 1936, BlueCross BlueShield has helped millions of people lead healthier lives. BlueCross BlueShield offers a full range of insured, self-insured, and
government programs and services covering businesses, families, and individuals, as well as life and disability coverage, dental and vision plans and stop-loss coverage. As a community-based, not-for-profit health plan, BlueCross BlueShield contributes significantly to organizations that strengthen and enrich the health of our community.
For up-to-date news, facts, and information about the company, leadership, and industry, please visit the BlueCross BlueShield News Center at bcbswny.com/news or follow us on Twitter.
