Troop 70097 in Crandell Woods

Thanks to the Girl Scouts from Daisy Troop 70097, who helped to plant 14 trees in Crandell Woods in Delaware Park this past Saturday, May 28th.  Below are some pictures of our wonderful helpers dedicating their time and efforts to the beautification of our parks.

LABATT USA TO COVER VANDALISM COSTS FOR DELAWARE PARK

LABATT USA TO COVER VANDALISM COSTS FOR DELAWARE PARK

Generous community response gives the parks a lift

Buffalo, New York – Imagine if someone took a spray can to one of Van Gogh’s masterpieces. That’s essentially what happened in Delaware Park earlier this week when vandals, attempted to ruin one of the most cherished treasures in the region. About 100 teenagers and young adults created thousands of dollars in damages, leaving the park in disrepair just before its busiest season.

According to Thomas Herrera-Mishler, CEO of Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, the damage to the parks quieted his otherwise hard-working and enthusiastic staff. “We were all very discouraged,” said Herrera-Mishler. “We get a lot done on a very tight budget and to have someone maliciously vandalize it – was shocking and sad.”

But a quick and compassionate response from numerous small donors, HSBC Bank and Labatt USA provided a boost to morale. Within hours of news reports at local media outlets, donations began pouring in $10 at a time.

Then came the phone call from Labatt USA.  “They asked how much it would take to repair the damage in Delaware Park. We gave them the total and an hour later they offered to cover the cost in full,” said Herrera-Mishler. “The most effective way to counteract the vandals is to remove the graffiti, fix the playground and repair the fountain. To do it quickly and with the help of our community, only diminishes the vandals’ negative impact on us.”

Donations will go toward quickly restoring the damage and to implement additional security measures to help prevent future attacks.  Specialized and expensive formulas are required to remove and prevent graffiti on the parks’ historic buildings and these donations will allow the Conservancy to move fast to restore the Marcy Casino and Delaware Park Rose Gardens before this coming weekend’s weddings.

 “Without the money in-hand, we wouldn’t be able to immediately make the repairs,” said Herrera-Mishler. “There will be many brides and grooms toasting Labatt for their generosity.”

Additional vandalism occurred at Day’s Park, Cazenovia Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. If you would like to make a one-time $10 donation, please text the word “parks” to 20222 on cell phones* or visit Olmsted’s website at www.bfloparks.org

About Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is a not-for-profit, independent, community

organization that promotes, preserves, restores, enhances, and ensures maintenance of Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks and parkways in the Greater Buffalo area now and for future generations. In 2008, the Conservancy released its Plan for the 21st

Century, a blueprint for the management and restoration of the entire park system.

Listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places, the Olmsted system in

Buffalo is the first of its kind in the nation designed by America’s greatest landscape

architect. The major Olmsted Parks in Buffalo are Cazenovia, Delaware, Front, Martin

Luther King, Jr., Riverside and South Parks. 

Visit www.BFLOParks.org for more details.

* Your phone bill will show a $10 charge or will be deducted from your prepaid account. Standard message or data rates may apply.  Privacy policy.

SEVERE VANDALISM IN DELAWARE PARK!

On Saturday night, May 21^st, the southern half of Delaware Park in the City of Buffalo sustained significant damage due to vandalism.  The Marcy Casino building (199 Lincoln Pkwy) was the victim of graffiti on several of its columns and walls as well as the elevator for the handicapped.    The Ivy Bridge in Rumsey Woods was spray painted.  The decorative top of the ornamental fountain in the Rose Garden was snapped off.  The slide at the children’s playground was maliciously destroyed by caving in its base and the top being tied up with rope.  Earlier in the evening more than 100 teenagers and young adults were witnessed congregating around the Marcy Casino.  The president and CEO of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Thomas Herrera-Mishler, held a press conference today at 2:00 pm at the Marcy Casino to address this recent rash of vandalism.  Council Members LoCurto, Rivera, and Police Chief Barba were in attendance for the press conference.  Below are a few photos of the damage.

It is up to the community who patronizes the park to see that the Japanese Gardens are maintained as a kid-friendly place free from crime and destruction.  Those with information regarding the vandalism are asked to contact the Buffalo City Police tip line, (716)847-2255, and or the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, (716)838-1249.

Free Golf Clinic at Delaware Park

This Saturday, May 21st at 10:00am, Steve Harber, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy's resident golf teaching professional, will be offering a FREE golf clinic at the Delaware Park Golf Course-Putting Green.  In this clinic, golfers will learn how to improve their long game through short game practice.  Swing mechanics will also be addressed in this clinic.

What to bring:

• Putter
• Chipping wedge (or similar club)
• Golf balls

Come check out this FREE clinic and improve your golf game while spending time in beautiful Delaware Park.

www.bfloparks.org

www.facebook.com/bfloparks

Community Watch: Japanese Gardens Vandalized!

A few days ago a mature tree in the Japanese Gardens was completely broken off at the trunk thus killing it.  The person or persons responsible for this vandalism have damaged an important part of the landscape that serves both an ecological and aesthetic purpose.  This tree had purpose while the ignorant actions of those responsible for its destruction didn't.  What was done was shameful and shows a complete lack of respect for the community and the environment.  Simply put these were the actions of a jerk.

It is up to the community who patronizes the park to see that the Japanese Gardens are maintained as a kid-friendly place free from crime and destruction.  Those with information regarding the vandalism are asked to contact the Buffalo City Police tip line, (716)847-2255, and or the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, (716)838-1249.

Birding Walk in Riverside Park 5.28.11

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Buffalo Audubon Society, and Medaille College announce a FREE introductory bird watching walk to the public at Riverside Park on Saturday, May 28^th, 2011.  Bird watching (oftentimes referred to as birding) is the observation and study of birds through looking at (telescopes and binoculars) and listening for bird songs and calls.  This introductory bird watching walk at Riverside Park will help the general public learn about the birds of Buffalo and the Niagara River and gain an introduction to binoculars, guide books, and field marks.

Buffalo Audubon naturalists and volunteers will be on hand to help first-time birders join the fastest growing recreational pastime in the United States.  Those who are interested in attending are asked to meet in the parking lot on Hotaling Drive in Riverside Park (enter across from Roesch Avenue) at 10am Saturday, May 28^th.

This free introductory walk is the beginning of a partnership between the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Buffalo Audubon Society, and Medaille College, for the purpose of building community involvement and training students on how to teach environmental education.  The walk is free, but participants are asked to pre-register by calling Sal Sciandra at 716-838-1249 x33 or sal@bfloparks.org

Who: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Audubon Society, and Medaille College

When: Saturday, May 9^th, 2011

Time: 10:00am-Noon

What: A FREE introductory birding walk at Riverside Park.  Those who attend will receive training in how to use bird watching equipment, identify common bird species and more.

Contact: Sal Sciandra 716-838-1249 ext 33 or sal@bfloparks.org

Improvements to South Park Golf House

With golf season underway, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is proud to announce that the South Park golf house has recently gone through some noticeable improvements.  The men’s restroom, the women’s restroom, the locker room, the storeroom area, along with the main room have all been repaired and repainted.

Women's Bathroom, After

•Holes in ceiling & walls patched

•New paint on ceiling, walls, floor, bathroom stalls

 Men's Bathroom, Before

Men's Bathroom, After

•Holes in ceiling & walls patched

•New paint on ceiling, walls, floor, bathroom stalls

Storeroom Area, Before

Storeroom Area, After

• New drywall installed, painted, door repaired

South Park Main Room, After

• Walls, floor, fireplace painted

• Kitchen area repaired