The Grant-Amherst Business Association is having an exhibit of photos from their Black Rock Historic Photo Project that opens next week on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 from 5-8pm at the Buffalo History Museum.
When we think about the state of Olmsted’s Delaware Park, it’s hard not to think about a significant body of water that moves through it. Scajaquada Creek has gone from being a glorious asset, to a forgotten dumping ground, and finally a source of inspiration for a new generation of Buffalonians that are sick of seeing our natural resources treated with such disdain.
In the past, we never stopped to consider the worth of the creek, and its untapped potential, which is sad to think because now the cleanup efforts are so great that it’s hard to understand the true scope of the project (one source of the creek even runs underneath the Galleria Mall). That said, a new era of Buffalonians is comprised of doers, rather than un-doers. Many young people are getting back in touch with the environment, and are refusing to be part of the problem.
Do we want our creek to be a stagnant dumping ground with no recreational assets, and choked off environmental potential?
Or do we want the creek to be another signature waterway that reconnects the park, opens it up for canoeing and kayaking and creates healthy habitats for wildlife?
From downgrading the Scajaquada Expressway to an “actual” boulevard, to cleaning up arterial sources that lead to the creek, there is a stepped up grassroots’ effort to make sure that the future of the waterway is taken into consideration as a prime resource that adds to the quality if life for any who visit the park (not just driving through it to get home).
On March 19, 2014 at 6 PM, a presentation will be held in the auditorium at the Buffalo History Museum that will put the spotlight on the creek in the form of a photographic journey. At the event, a number of creek proponents will be on-hand to detail the efforts being made by organizations such as Riverkeeper, Grant-Amherst Business Association., and the Buffalo Canoe Club to restore the creek. “The Grant-Amherst Business Association’s committee has been working on its award winning Black Rock Historic Photo Project, now in its 10th year,” said Doreen DeBoth, Project Chair & Secretary of the Grant-Amherst Business Association. “Created to preserve its immigrant past, commerce, industry, and life and activity that quickly formed a tight knit community. Currently there are 120 submitters and close to 1,800 photos in the archive. We are very close to completing a (book) pictorial history of Black Rock. There are twelve photos that are on display at Wegmans on Amherst Street, both inside and out but this will give the public the perfect opportunity to view these great creek photos and see what the creek used to look like.”
The show is sponsored by the Grant-Amherst Business Association, The Buffalo History Museum and North District Councilman Joeseph Golombek Jr. Admission is free and open to the public and continues through March 23.
*Only the opening reception has free admission-not through the duration of the exhibit.