Hopefully Buffalo Rising readers are aware of the proposed rehabilitation for the current Ontario Street Boat Launch in the city of Buffalo; the project is known as Black Rock Canal Park (BRCP). The County-owned land, that is in desperate need of repair and enhancements, is getting planning assistance from the local community. The Black Rock-Riverside Good Neighbors Planning Alliance (BRRGNPA) Land Use, Zoning and Urban Design (LUZUD) committee, has spent thousands of community volunteer hours to develop a plan and present it to every level of government, various community groups, businesses and waterfront users. Their award winning plans have been deemed so visionary that last year there was a commitment of $100,000 from the County and $50,000 from the City to fund a full feasibility study.
On the promise of the money, a request for proposals was issued, bids were received and a vendor was selected. The study is ready to go but there is a problem.
Last month BRRGNPA member Margaret Szczepaniec and members of the LUZUD committee presented the proposal to County Legislators and Erie County Executive Collins. The BRCP proposal was so well received by the vast majority of the Legislators that a resolution, sponsored by Legislator Maria Whyte, was passed on April 24th to fund the $100,000 feasibility study, as previously committed. Now they are waiting to see if the County Executive Collins will honor the promise of the previous administration and release the $100,000.
Let’s hope that C.E. Collins can see that this project would be a regional asset, spur development along the northern section of Buffalo’s waterfront and provide security for that stretch of waterfront isolated due to the presence of the I-190.