When all is said and done, Buffalo’s Outer Harbor will most likely look radically different than it does today. With the announcement by Governor Cuomo that Buffalo Harbor State Park will be allocated $15,000,000 (Buffalo Billion funds), park planners will have their hands full as they set out to create a world class destination. Whether the destination looks more like a national park or a summer wonderland is partly up to the public.
For anyone who feels that they have something to say about the Outer Harbor and the direction that it will take, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) will be holding three public outreach meetings in order to get input on the Buffalo Outer Harbor blueprint.
350 acres of waterfront property has been transferred from the control of the NFTA. The new State Park consists of 190 acres of that land, a small boat marina and a beach. The State Park will fall under the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). The uses on the remaining land is yet to be determined.
As you can see, at this juncture there is already a proposed picnic pavilion, a promenade, and a playground as part of the Buffalo Harbor State Park.
You can see the “vision” for the proposed Outer Harbor State Park by clicking here.
While it appears that there are certain amenities being earmarked for the parcel of waterfront property, there are still additional elements that will be incorporated. Those elements will continue to be designated as the public process unfolds.
“We are determined to listen to what our residents want to see in the blueprint for Buffalo’s last frontier,” said ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia. “This is your project. These meetings are open to everyone and are designed to solicit varied opinions and guidance from the region’s people. The design team is open to all suggestions within our guiding principles. It’s about accessibility, diversity, planning and design, and financial sustainability.”
The Outer Harbor blueprint is due this fall. The ECHDC will be working with Empire State Development (ESD) and Perkins+Will, a San Francisco-based planning and architecture firm.
The three community meetings are set as follows:
Wednesday, July 9, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., WNED Studios, 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo, NY 14203.
Thursday, July 10, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Makowski Early Childhood Center, 1095 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo, NY 14208.
Saturday, July 12, 9 – 11 a.m., Old First Ward Community Center, 62 Republic St., Buffalo, NY 14204.
*Community members will participate in these open and inclusive public meetings by sharing ideas, learning about the planning process and engaging in planning games with Perkins+Will staff.
For more information, visit www.eriecanalharbor.com