After having numerous discussions with St Paul’s Cathedral Historian and Parishioner Martha Neri regarding the state of Cathedral Park, I was happy to hear that there were some advancements being made that would help the park awaken from what has been a pretty deep and slightly depressing slumber. From a locked playground where children could not play, to unkempt grounds, the park should be an epicenter for life in the heart of Downtown Buffalo.
To see the background on Cathedral Park, click here.
The following is from Martha Neri:
There is all sorts of good news for Cathedral Park right now. Buffalo Place Inc., has repainted the benches and trimmed some of the trees. A dead tree has been removed. All the dead leaves have been swept up.
The City of Buffalo is actually the property owner of the playground and everything inside the fence. They will provide and put down new mulch. The playground equipment has been evaluated and is safe for use.
In the near future a bike rack will be installed. There are more people riding their bikes to work and there is a need for a rack. The new owner of Vasilis Restaurant (see here) would like to add more picnic tables. His customers like to sit outside in nice weather. Parishioners of St. Paul’s Cathedral are enjoying dining there on Sundays before or after services. Vasilis Restaurant is open on Sundays, 9 am – 2 pm. For all receipts on that day 5% will be given to the church.
Soon Pearl St. will become a two-way street. In the next few years when construction begins to return traffic to Main St. there are plans to install a new surface in the park. All of these actions will increase visitors. Furthermore, it is well known that increased activity in an urban area acts to decrease criminal actions.
In the long-range, I hope that Cathedral Park remains a green space forever. I did hear one person say that Erie St. might be opened to traffic to facilitate access to the waterfront. The City of Buffalo does own the land where the park sits. Until Urban Renewal began in the late 1960s the entire area was street surface. The current Deputy Commissioner of Parks, Andy Rabb, has said that he would keep the area as a park. I think there a many people who would agree with him.