New Pocket Park Suggestion
As a proud and enthusiastic downtown resident I have watched as you have worked with Buffalo Rising and community leaders in the creation of pocket parks throughout the city.
While on a recent walk around my neighborhood I noticed several residents playing catch with a baseball on a section of what I believe to be state land where Genesee, Oak, Elm, and Route 33 all form what I would consider a great place for a pocket park.
This grassy area is relatively large and even has an existing gravel area that could be used for parking. The park could be as simple as adding some picnic tables and grills to as unique as a "Public Safety Memorial" park to honor deceased Buffalo police and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
A nice stone memorial and/or fountain could be added in the future. The possibilities are limitless and could be added immediately or over time. I can invision beach volleyball courts, horse shoe pits, picnic shelters, putting green, or any number of other idea's. The park would be a great assest to those of us residents looking for more green space within the cement jungle we live in. What a great way for our growing downtown community to meet, play, and relax.
Donald P. Cialone Jr.
Editor's Note: Assemblymember Hoyt is in Albany today. We'll post his views in the comments section as soon as he responds.
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- 14 Comments
Comment Options
downtowndweller
Aren't they bringing back "Green Lightning" to that section of the park?
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ChocolateShake
Why not add a paragraph that mandates that the City/County/ State *properly* maintain the parks already in existence? The current state of (most) parks in Buffalo is rather lackluster. Legislation that allows for greater private sector sponsorship to help with the upkeep of parks should be permitted.
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DJCramer
This looks like an excellent location for a unique park given the great view of the skyline. Rather than create a garden-variey park with shelters and grills, why not use this space to create a unique urban park similar to Millennium Park in Chicago http://www.millenniumpark.org/ ?. This is the first part of the city that one sees when they enter via the 33. Why not make this a gateway to downtown?
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UrbanGuy
if we're talking about the land between the ramps, the majority of that is owned by a private developer. the northern portion is not, but there are already trees there and it would prove more difficult to get to, especially if that ever gets built on.
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Joshua
Here is a link to the "green-lightening" --- dancing you know whats--- Green Lightening . I suppose a park would be a better idea...
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brokeleg
better narrow them streets and get rid of the 33 at least to jefferson so that way i dont get ran over when my frisbee gets blown away.
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gaustad
great idea!
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WCPerspective
Much of the site is owned by Uniland, at least along Genesee.
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JimOstrowski
I don't know. Having lots of empty, ugly and useless government property is a way of life in Buffalo. Are you sure this is a good idea?
(Close down the 33 also.)
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300miles
The city should not be pushed into building more and more new parks when it can't maintain the parks it already has. Right now, focus should be on repairing Lasalle, Front, MLK, and Delaware Parks. Adding new parks only dilutes the attention and money that could be used on our existing run-down parks.
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AtwaterLouse
300miles and ChocolateShake are voices of reason.
All the spending often proposed on BR for new parks (and to be spent in future for maintaining them forever) would be much better directed to Buffalo's existing parks and pools - LaSalle as QueensEyes ironically complained is neglected recently, and others such as MLK, etc.
With so much spending demands for schools, police, fire, streets, needed entitlement programs, community centers, senior services, etc, there's a very limited amount for parks. Adding new parks sounds fun. There's 100s of places across the city that reader submissions can suggest for pocket, micro, mini, and nano parks. No doubt Sam and others can find taxpayer money to do some if that's what they think wins them votes. But down the road it would even further lessen the ability to keep parks already here in decent shape.
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Biniszkiewicz
Uniland hopes to attract somewhere in the neighborhood of 300,000 square feet of office tenants to this location.They're waiting until they get sufficient tenant interest before developing. It's an absolutely prime development site. In the meantime it looks fine. It ain't broke; no need to fix.
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allthingsbuffalo
when the genesee gateway project is completed and successful i think you'll see uniland get enough tenant interest to put something up there.
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