Phase 1 of Capital Campaign Goal Reached
Phase 1 of Comprehensive Capital Campaign Reaches Goal
There was a warm celebration for Buffalo’s Olmsted Park and Parkway System today when it was announced that the first phase of the Capital Campaign surpassed its goal.
“America’s greatest landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted would be very proud today,” said Corinne Rice, chair of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy Board of Trustees. “Our Olmsted parklands look terrific. Park users are taking advantage of newly rebuilt pedestrian pathways all year-round, and several of the popular historic park structures have been restored. This is all due to the generous support of our donors. The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy set out to be a catalyst for economic development and neighborhood revitalization and today, I am pleased to announce, we are succeeding.”
Over the past five years, nearly $13 million has been raised for our historic Olmsted Parks through contributions from foundations, corporations, government agencies, community and neighborhood groups and individuals. Specific park projects, funded by hundreds of donors, include: researching and writing the 20 -Year Parks Management and Restoration Plan; endowing salaries for Zone Gardeners who are directly responsible and accountable for park maintenance and upkeep; purchasing landscaping equipment to replace non-repairable equipment, and restoring historic park structures such as the cozy shelter house in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
Each of the six Olmsted-designed parks, their neighboring parkways and circles has benefited from this first phase of fundraising. Park goers can take a journey with nature through Delaware Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on newly constructed pedestrian pathways which are true to the original Olmsted design. Noticeable landscape enhancements can be found in Riverside Park, South Park, Cazenovia Park, Delaware Park and in all of the circles. The shelter house in Cazenovia Park has been restored and Front Park will continue to see improvements and changes such as the demolition and removal of the vacant brick structure, which had, for several decades, obstructed the scenic view to the Niagara River.
“We could not have achieved our goal had it not been for a dedicated board of trustees, a hard working staff and volunteers who have believed in our vision and mission of preserving the parks now and for future generations,” said Patrick Fagan, interim chief executive officer.
“The Conservancy is committed to breathing new life into these parks, parkways and circles, returning them to their former glory and creating visible changes in this community that will improve the quality of life and impact the daily lives of everyone in Western New York. Our work is not done. We now go into the second phase of our parks campaign, with a goal of raising another $12.6 million for projects that will continue to beautify Buffalo’s Olmsted parkland and keep the Olmsted system in the national spotlight for the significant role it plays in re-building our region,” continued Fagan.
Some of the key projects planned for the second phase of the campaign include; recreating all 29 miles of the majestic pathway in each of the six Olmsted spaces, complete restoration of the Parkside Lodge in Delaware Park for use as a year-round visitor and banquet center, and unearthing the magical and lush Quarry Garden in Delaware Park.
Anyone interested in making a donation to support the parks or learning more about the work of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy can call 838-1249 ext. 30 or visit http://www.buffaloolmstedparks.org.
A special thank you to attendees Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Deputy Erie County Executive Bruce Fisher, Buffalo Common Council member Antoine Thompson, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Director Edward Rutkowski and representatives were also on hand from the office of New York State Senator Charles Schumer and Erie County Legislator Lynn Marinelli. Thank you to students from Tapestry Charter School in Buffalo, 5th graders Mercedes Olmsted, Deja Stevens, Luke Friedman and Isaac George, who assisted with the media event.
Recently, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, a not-for-profit membership based organization, has been recognized for its leadership in parks management, inspiring volunteer programs for youth, and excellence in preservation by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Business First of Buffalo and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (BOPC) is an independent, not-for-profit, membership-based, community organization whose mission is to promote, preserve, restore, enhance and ensure the maintenance of Olmsted-designed parks and parkways in the Greater Buffalo area now and for future generations. The Conservancy, now in its 28th year, maintains Buffalo’s historic Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Park System, the first of its kind in the nation. In partnership with the community, the Conservancy works to revitalize Delaware, Cazenovia, Front, Martin Luther King, Jr., Riverside and South Parks and their connecting parkways, circles and other spaces. World-renown as the “Father of Landscape Architecture,” Olmsted also designed the Parkside neighborhood, the grounds of the H.H. Richardson Complex, Niagara Square, and the Niagara Falls State Park, as well as New York’s Central Park, the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and the White House, Yosemite National Park and famous parks and green spaces throughout North America. To learn more about the Conservancy, call 838-1249 or visit http://www.joinolmsted.org. |
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