New Chairs & Tables in the Buffalo Olmsted Parks

PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOPC, EAST HILL FOUNDATION, AND BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESULTS IN NEW TABLES & CHAIRS FOR THE PARKS

A $5,000 grant from the East Hill Foundation was applied to the purchase of building materials for the construction of 20 wooden picnic tables and 30 Adirondack chairs by Buffalo Public School students for placement throughout the Buffalo Olmsted Parks system.  Students from McKinley High School’s Careers and Technical Education program (CTE) were responsible for constructing all 20 wooden picnic tables.  The CTE program covers many different fields in several different high schools and integrates rigorous academics with relevant career and technical skills, as well as workplace attitudes and behaviors.  The Adirondack chairs were built by CTE students with special needs from the Buffalo Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts and ranged in grade levels 7 to 12.  The construction project was coordinated by Director of CTE, Kathy Heinle.

“The students are more than happy to participate in constructing the chairs for the conservancy’s use,” Heinle said.  “The project increases their skills and affords them pride in a job well done.  And the CTE teachers reinforce the fact that people visiting the parks will enjoy the students’ efforts for years to come.”

Head carpentry teachers overseeing the project were Don Geil, Joe Denee, Abigail Swales, and Gerry Durak.

“Because of our wonderful relationship with Buffalo Public Schools, we can provide more comfort to the visitors of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks. We are so grateful for a project that is a win- win- win for students, the Parks and visitors,”  Thomas Herrera-Mishler, President and CEO of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, (BOPC), is a 501c3 not-for-profit, independent, community organization that promotes, preserves, restores, enhances and ensures maintenance of Olmsted Parks and Parkways in the greater Buffalo area to guarantee Olmsted Park experiences for current and future generations.

The East Hill Foundation identifies and funds innovative, charitable projects designed to enhance the quality of life of residents from the eight counties of Western New York. The Foundation also teaches stewardship to the founders' family members by supporting their projects irrespective of where they live.

The Buffalo School District is regarded as one of the premiere urban school systems in New York State. Serving 34,000 students in nearly 65 facilities, the district strives to bring exemplary teaching practices and unparalleled opportunities to its diverse student population.

Riverkeeper Clean-Up this Saturday (9.24.11)

Scajaquada clean-up this Saturday !!

The Scajaquada Creek Autumn Sweep is on Saturday September 24th, held once again by the Grant Amherst Business Association and Scajaquada Canoe Club in conjunction with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. The clean-up meets at the American Legion on Amherst Street at 9AM. All are welcome to help support the cleaning up and redevelopment of Scajaquada Creek.



There will be graffiti removed from on the newly refurbished concrete highway piers, and shopping carts by West Avenue removed from in the water.  Augustina Droze's Olmsted  mural decorating the McKinley High School wall seems to have obviated the need for graffiti removal there.  Alas, the stopped up debris in front of the Historical Society on Nottingham Parkway still is creating a cesspool west of the S dam, and poor Scajaquada Creek continues to serve as our suburbs’ sewer. 

We are a long way from a fishable, swimmable, drinkable Scajacuada Creek but with your help we can have a cleaner shore, free public access and open recreation for paddling, peddling, and hiking.

Pollution and inattentiveness aside, the signs of life in the Creek are encouraging, and it is truly an eye-opening  waterfront experience to help along the Scajaquada Trail.  Please check it out in person and join in on the clean-up this Saturday.   Special guest Mark Grisanti will be present to address the picnic crowd after the clean-up at 12:30 at the Legion.  To sign up call Riverkeeper at 716-852-7483.

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.

Digital Billboard

If you're on the 33 Expressway, make sure to look for the digital billboard advertising our Party for the Parks (Friday, September 24th).

Outdoor Screening

On Friday, August 27th, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy held a free outdoor screening of "The Olmsted Legacy", a documentary film by Rebecca Messner. Below are a few photos from the event.

Pepsi Refresh

A freak snow storm in October of 2006 destroyed 90% of the trees in the historic Buffalo Olmsted Parks System. At its zenith, the parks boasted 40,000 spectacular trees. Sadly now, we are down to 14,000. Since that devastating storm, wonderful volunteers throughout Buffalo have replanted 3,000 of the park's missing trees, but there is still a long way to go. This impoverished city, the 3rd poorest in the nation, needs some help to purchase the trees and equipment needed to continue to reforest our historic parks. Our goal is to keep planting 1000 trees this year, to continue to replace all of the lost trees in the system. Re-Leafing the Buffalo Olmsted Parks system, over 1200 acres of green infrastructure through parks, parkways and traffic circles, will improve our diverse neighborhoods throughout the city, create green jobs, beautify the community, and improve the overall quality of life in the city of Buffalo, and ultimatley, for the planet.



Please take the time to vote for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks in the Pepsi Refresh Contest.  We are in the running to win $50,000 to plant 1,000 new trees in the Olmsted Parks!

Seminar on invasive species in Western New York

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks is proud to host an informational seminar for Buffalo and the surrounding communities. The purpose of this seminar is to provide training and education for the detection, identification, and reporting procedure of forest pests, such as the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Longnorned Beetle. The seminar is sponsored by the New York State Agriculture Department.

The seminar will be held on Tuesday August 17th 2010, from 5:30pm until 8:00pm. The location is Marcy Casino (199 Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14214)

The seminar includes refreshments, a powerpoint presentation, as well as a Q&A session.

Attendees should RSVP by email only!
Contact: Rachel Lithgow at rachel@bfloparks.org