When we look back to April/May of 2012, when the Master Plan was announced for Parcel OH at the Outer Harbor, the rendering shows a whimsical landscape filled with promises of wind sculptures, a footbridge (seen in photo below), sand volleyball courts, a passive beach, rain gardens, a fishing pier, naturalized shorelines, and a dock for water taxis (among other features).
Less than one year later, those promises are being delivered as you can plainly see in these photos, showing a cluster of wind sculptures sitting atop a 15′ mound overlook with spiral path to the top. The copyrighted sculptures were made by Whitaker Studios and were commissioned by the Erie Canal Development Corporation as part of an overall plan to create a waterfront destination for summer of 2013. To see how this all unfolded, click here.
The proximity to Tifft and Times Beach Natures Preserves, as well as the lighthouse, Ship Canal Commons, and even RiverFest Park and Mutual Rowers Park (some of which are interconnected with bike paths), makes the wind sculpture park a very attractive and interactive destination along the lake. Right now at any point along the Outer Harbor your view of the lake is obstructed by the Outer Harbor break wall. But at the top of the mound on this site you will be able to see over the break wall and onto the expansive view of the lake, sunset and Canada.
The site will be open to the public Memorial Day Weekend but some of the plantings will still be “seedlings” so it will look like it’s not complete, but it will all be open to the public.
*The project budget was estimated at $3.8 million. The funding source is proceeds received from NYPA pursuant to the Erie County/City of Buffalo Relicensing Settlement Agreement.
Click to enlarge images