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Chapin Parkway

Explore Buffalo | Tour de Olmsted North Bike Tour

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Get tickets here: https://explorebuffalo.org/bike/tour-de-olmsted-north/

The father of the public park movement in America, Frederick Law Olmsted (FLO) was brought to Buffalo in 1868 for his far-sighted belief that parks, parkways, and residential communities were essential social institutions with great humanistic appeal. With his partner, Calvert Vaux, he left an indelible mark on our city that is still, today, the most historically complete parks and parkway system in the USA. On this 14-mile, 2-hour bike tour we visit the first park Olmsted designed in Buffalo (Delaware) and the last one in Buffalo designed by his firm (Riverside), as well as several of his earlier established parkways and circles.

MLK Jr Park

Explore Buffalo | Tour de Olmsted South Bike Tour

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Get tickets here: https://explorebuffalo.org/bike/tour-de-olmsted-south/

The father of the public park movement in America, Frederick Law Olmsted (FLO) was brought to Buffalo in 1868 for his far-sighted belief that parks, parkways, and residential communities were essential social institutions with great humanistic appeal. With his partner, Calvert Vaux, he left an indelible mark on our city that is still, today, the most complete parks and parkway system in the USA.

On this 21-mile, 3-hour bike tour we visit the second set of parks and parkways that Olmsted and his firm designed in Buffalo (Front, South, and Cazenovia Parks) as well as several of his parkways, circles, and pocket parks. We also experience “once-were” parks, designed-but-not-implemented parks, parkways, and circles. The tour also covers multiple Buffalo neighborhoods (West Side, Downtown, South Buffalo, East Side), architectural highlights, Canalside, the Outer Harbor, and “the Parade” which is today known as Martin Luther King Park.

Our tour begins at Front Park by the statue of Commander Oliver Perry.

Lincoln Parkway_Bike path

Explore Buffalo | Delaware Park & FLO in Buffalo by BIKE!

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Get tickets here: https://explorebuffalo.org/bike/delaware-park/

The father of the public park movement in America, Frederick Law Olmsted (FLO) was brought to Buffalo in 1868 for his far-sighted belief that parks, parkways, and residential communities were essential social institutions with great humanistic appeal. With his partner, Calvert Vaux, he left an indelible mark on our city that is still, today, the most historically complete parks and parkway system in the USA.

On this approximately 4-mile, 1.5 hour bike tour we visit the first park Olmsted designed in Buffalo (Delaware) and the parkways and circles that Olmsted designed as the grand entranceways into the Park. The tour also covers several of Buffalo’s cultural centers (Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo History Museum, Burchfield Penney) in the Delaware Park district.

Explore Buffalo | Riverside Park Walking Tour

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Reserve tickets and learn more: https://explorebuffalo.org/olmsted/riverside-park/

he final Olmsted park designed for Buffalo was the city’s northern most park, Riverside Park. The plan for this park was created in 1898. 22 acres in size, the park was built on the site of a private picnic ground overlooking the Erie Canal and the Niagara River. This tour circles the park and visits some of the park’s amenities, landmarks, and statues.

MLK Splash Pad

Explore Buffalo | MLK Jr. Park Walking Tour

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Get tickets here: https://explorebuffalo.org/neighborhood/mlk-park/

Learn the history of Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, from its birth as part of our famous Olmsted Park system, through name and design changes, to its current status as the vital green space of its East Side neighborhood. Along the way, learn more about some of the buildings surrounding the park and the Buffalo Museum of Science within the park, hear about Buffalo’s first Black architect, and delight in viewing the works of two famous artists.

May 2025 Tour Dates:

Sun May 4 – 10am
Thurs May 8 – 6pm

Summer foliage in Cazenovia Park with people walking

Explore Buffalo | Cazenovia Park Walking Tour

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Reserve tickets and learn more: https://explorebuffalo.org/olmsted/cazenovia/

Explore the beauty and thoughtful design of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Cazenovia Park while strolling along its peaceful paths overlooking Cazenovia Creek. Learn how this vital neighborhood resource was developed from the land of the original Seneca inhabitants into the active South Buffalo gathering place it is today.

Meet on the sidewalk in front of the brown brick building named Peter J. Crotty Casino, which is located along the park road just inside the Seneca Street entrance. Parking is available in Cazenovia Park along Warren Spahn Way (the park road).

Explore Buffalo | Delaware Park Hoyt Lake Walking Tour

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Reserve tickets and learn more: https://explorebuffalo.org/olmsted/delaware-park-hoyt-lake-walking-tour/

Built as one of Frederick Law Olmsted’s original Buffalo parks by the early 1870s, Delaware Park is the largest park in Buffalo’s system of parks and parkways designed by Olmsted. This tour of the Hoyt Lake section of Delaware Park will circle Hoyt Lake as it visits some of the park’s landmarks and statues. Along the way, learn about the history of Frederick Law Olmsted in Buffalo, his vision for our city, and the specific design and evolution of Delaware Park.

The tour meets at the statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of the Rose Garden in Delaware Park, across Lincoln Parkway from the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. Use 199 Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo NY 14222 for GPS & Google Maps. Abundant free street parking on Lincoln Parkway is available: please plan on 10 minutes to find a spot and walk to the Abraham Lincoln statue. This tour is approximately ninety minutes and 1.8 miles in length. This tour includes some hills and stairs, and goes off the park paths onto the grass at some points.

April/May 2025 tour dates:

Thurs Apr 17 – 10am
Thurs Apr 24 – 2pm
Thurs May 1 – 10am
Sat May 10 – 10am
Thurs May 15 – 10am
Sat May 24 – 10am
Thurs May 29 – 10am
Thurs May 29 – 6pm

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