Ralph Wilson Park in Phase Two
By: Ella Wittman |
| Buffalo resident Kareem Lubin at the new Ralph Wilson Park |
Construction equipment and unfinished paths are all around Ralph Wilson Park; however people are still gathering at the waterfront site as crews work to turn the old LaSalle Park into a 100-plus-acre waterfront greenspace.
The $200 million project will change the way people will use the waterfront.
When the park is completed, it will have a whole new look with new recreational spaces, new trails, a natural shoreline and a whole new play garden. More information about the project can be found here.
Currently, the construction company is in phase 2 of building the park. Charles Torres, chair of the board of the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy said this phase includes building the new play garden, new landscaping, a playground, new pathways and also new shoreline improvements. “Phase 2, which includes the creation of the play garden, as well as significant landscaping, playground installation, pathway and roadway construction, shoreline improvements and completion of the remaining waterfront enhancements, began in early June,” Torres said.
Major construction areas remain closed at this time, but there are still some parts of the park that are open to the public. You can use the KABOOM! playground, temporary dog park and the skate park.
The new Ralph Wilson Park will be a very big change from the old LaSalle Park. The old park was mostly flat and bordered by a concrete seawall. The new design will have a natural shoreline, new parking spaces and a pedestrian bridge that connects the local neighborhoods to the waterfront park. “The most noticeable transformation is how the park interacts with both the water and the neighborhood,” Torres said.
Buffalo resident Kareem Lubin spent time at LaSalle Park before the construction began. Lubin said he would come to the park with his family and dogs to take walks, get some fresh air and enjoy views of Lake Erie and the Buffalo skyline. “It was a much simpler park, but that was part of its charm,” Lubin said.
The community had a big part in shaping the design and ideas for this park. More than one thousand local stakeholders went to public meetings during the planning process. Torres said the public's feedback helped make the change from the initial 30 to 40-acre project to what is now a 100-plus-acre project.
"Public feedback was so impactful that the project expanded from an initial concept of redeveloping 30–40 acres to transforming the entire 110+ acre footprint, including the seawall and the pedestrian bridge,” Torres said.
LaSalle Park hosted lots of community driven events like the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, the Buffalo Funk Festival and even an Italian festival. Torres said he hopes the new park will continue to be a place where the community can celebrate, “I can't wait for people to experience our cultural celebrations, like the Puerto Rican Day Parade, utilizing features like the new Great Lawn, which was specifically designed to allow for all kinds of events, gatherings, festivals, and performances,” Torres said. More information about LaSalle Park's history can be found here.
Environmental improvements are another big impact of this project. They are replacing the 100-year-old seawall with a natural, armored slope and inlet, which improves the structural resiliency against the tough Buffalo weather. Torres said the new shoreline will help with protection from flooding and conserve wildlife habitats.
Construction will continue over the next year. The Conservancy is planning to open the splash pad and pool by summer, along with their Levitt VIBE concert series. Torres hopes the finished park will become a big part of the Buffalo community. “When the ribbon is cut, I hope Ralph Wilson Park is recognized as a 'forever park'—a welcoming home for all Buffalonians built by the community, for the community, that delivers pride, health, and joy for generations to come,” Torres said.
