Skate Plaza Is No Longer A Pipe Dream
Someday these kids that you see in this photo might just be on their way to a downtown skate plaza. Believe it or not, there is a progressive team working on the proposal (see history of project) and the momentum for the project is gaining speed every single day. I spoke with Renata Kraft, Senior Landscape Architect with Bergmann Associates and MicroPark Board Member, and this is the latest update on skate plaza plans:
“It's going to go... we have a draft skate plaza proposal. We're meeting today with people who are going to help with the executive summary. The DOT gave us a letter saying that we can potentially do this project. They have given us no reason that this can’t happen. There was a rumor that we were not going to get DOT approval. The DOT met on-site and produced a letter saying that there should be no reason that we cannot present a plan for approval. Just look at Seattle. The city has en entire master plan where these types of parks are found under underutilized expressways. It's an abandoned people park (built in 1977). We have to make this location a connective corridor between the central business district and the waterfront. It's going to be an awesome skate plaza. It will be lit and wired, and it will be usable for other events - it will be another outdoor venue in downtown Buffalo. This will reassure people that skaters are legitimate athletes and people. We have a line on several funding sources. There is private money that is interested – and the City of Buffalo will be taking the lead on this project. We would like to see sponsorships as well… that will happen once the project has been solidified.”
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Comment Options
Spaulding97
Cool, where would this go?
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livesintheburbsworksinthecity
A skate plaza downtown?
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MJWorthington
read the history link ;)
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sbrof
near where Erie Street passes under the 190 between the Central Business District and the Erie Basin Marina.
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kooksapalooza
in the link to the previous article it seemed like they had already begun constructing it, parts of the park seemed built (stairs,ramps, random circle thing etc). That was in jan though, was it stopped being worked on because of DOT?
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Hoss
Awesome!
Are there any plans of the project online anywhere? I hope there is a bank or two in the mix.
Thanks for the update. If needed, how about a fundraiser at the Brewery before the snow flies?
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dpbflo
WOOHOO. Lets get the fundraisers goin!
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heathersmiles
What happens to the park if they move the Thruway, remove the Skyway, and return this route to the street level? Will this be a protest of the future?
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dcoffee
Yea Buffalo, finally a simple attraction people will use! Skateboarders travel far and wide for this stuff.
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