$110 Million of Collaborative Investment to Fulfill Community's Vision to Transform the Former LaSalle Park into a One-of-a-Kind, World-Class Park on Buffalo's Waterfront
Phase I Construction Includes a Signature Pedestrian Bridge for Improved Access, Ball Field Improvements and Shoreline Rehabilitation
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the City of Buffalo and the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy broke ground on Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park ("Ralph Wilson Park"), a 99-acre, world-class park located on Buffalo's waterfront. Rooted in the guidance of "Imagine LaSalle," the community-driven visioning process for the former LaSalle Park, Ralph Wilson Park will undergo a $110 million transformation into one of the most beautiful and inclusive public spaces in the country, serving nearby residents and visitors from across the region and beyond. The park's name honors the legacy of the late entrepreneur, veteran, and philanthropist Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. It is expected to be complete in late 2025. Renderings can be accessed here.
"Generations of Buffalo Bills fans knew of founder Ralph Wilson's commitment to Buffalo and generosity during his life," Governor Kathy Hochul said. "The groundbreaking of Ralph Wilson Park will bring a collaborative transformation of this waterfront park into a vibrant community space, where future generations will enjoy gathering for many years to come. This will ensure Ralph Wilson's love for our community continues to make an impact."
Mayor Byron W. Brown said, "In October 2018, Mary Wilson came to Buffalo and warmed our City's collective heart by announcing the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation would invest $50 million to help my Administration's efforts to transform the former LaSalle Park into a world-class, waterfront destination that would make the most of the natural beauty of this one-of-its-kind setting. Today's groundbreaking is a major milestone in the inclusive and transparent planning process to create a 'people's park' that will be enjoyed by the neighboring community, and all Buffalo residents, for generations to come."
Community-Led Development
In addition to its initial $50 million investment, the Foundation provided added funding to launch the Imagine LaSalle initiative, a multi-year, community-driven effort to explore and develop a community vision for the park to transform it into a world-class destination for neighbors, residents and visitors. The University at Buffalo Regional Institute (UBRI) led the engagement by partnering with the Wilson Foundation, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the City of Buffalo's Division of Parks and Recreation, the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC), the Department of Community Services and Recreational Programming, and Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning.
Funders and stakeholders have since worked to fulfill the community's vision for Ralph Wilson Park. Designed to celebrate the park's culture of inclusivity and diversity, and to embrace nature with inspiring landscaping, it will undergo a dramatic transformation. The topography will change with sweeping hills and valleys, active and diverse recreation activities, and destination play space for children of all ages. The new design will increase neighborhood connectivity through a new pedestrian bridge, maximize safe water access, and establish a resilient shoreline to mitigate the effects of climate change and rising lake levels.
David O. Egner, President & CEO, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, said, "Today's groundbreaking would not be possible without the collaboration of the City of Buffalo, New York State and so many partners that have come together to leverage and build upon the commitment made by the Foundation in 2018, honoring our founder, Ralph Wilson. The Imagine LaSalle engagement process provided an ambitious community vision for the future Ralph Wilson Park that paved the way for this incredible group of partners, stakeholders and funders to join us in supporting this once-in-a-lifetime investment in a public space that will be open and welcoming to all."
Construction Timeline
The park will be built in phases over the next few years. Construction is expected to begin in late summer, starting with a signature pedestrian bridge to give park-goers easier access to the park. Plans also call for updating several baseball and softball fields, and to rehabilitate the inlet area to create a resilient shoreline to protect the park from higher lake levels and severe weather.
Some other work has already been completed: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has significantly renovated the existing seawall in front of the Colonel Ward Pumping Station, the Buffalo Water Authority has completed critical repairs of a 48-inch water main, and improvements to the skate park and Empire State Trail behind the Waterfront Village housing have been completed.
Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, a New York-based landscape architecture firm known worldwide for its creative and unique urban design, has designed the park in collaboration with the City of Buffalo, BUDC, UBRI, and Imagine LaSalle project partners. MVVA is also designing a "sister" Ralph Wilson Park on the Detroit Riverfront, the other geographic focus for the Wilson Foundation. Architecture and engineering firm schlaich bergermann partner (sbp) is leading the design and construction of the new pedestrian bridge spanning the I-190, connecting Ralph Wilson Park with surrounding neighborhoods. BUDC and Gardiner & Theoboldare managing the entire project. A team of diverse construction firms, led by Gilbane Building Company, will provide construction management services.
Funding Partners
Phase one of the park is fully funded and the overall park is more than 90 percent funded to support the construction.
In October 2019, New York State awarded a $10 million grant to support the construction of that pedestrian bridge. The NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation has provided $2.5 million for the inlet, while $1.5 million came from Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper's Buffalo Blueway initiative to implement a public access Blueway site within the park, which is funded in part by Empire State Development. In addition, the U.S. Department of the Interior has awarded $2 million for the playground through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program.
The City of Buffalo provided $3 million to support the new pedestrian bridge to connect the Lower West Side neighborhood to the park and waterfront. The Wilson Foundation provided an additional $10 million in match funding for the pedestrian bridge and shoreline resiliency to ensure the full community vision is realized. The Greenway Commission has provided over $2.5 million to support increased connectivity to the Shoreline and Empire State Trails, as well as increased circulation through the park. MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association provided $1 million for the youth baseball and softball field renovations.
In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has provided $2 million of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding to support engineering and design work and pre-construction activities for coastal habitat restoration through a regional partnership with the Great Lakes Commission.
NOAA is now recommending an additional $10 million of GLRI funding through a renewed partnership with the Great Lakes Commission for construction of the restoration project to increase the coastal habitat and to build a more resilient shoreline. These efforts will greatly support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan, with Ralph Wilson Park as a priority habitat site to be protected and restored. The Park will be located within the Niagara Area of Concern (AOC), deemed so in part due to loss of fish and wildlife habitat, and the degradation of fish populations. In addition, the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)'s collaboration on the shoreline will embark on habitat restoration and related initiatives to include the Western New York Land Conservancy's effort to locally collect and grow native plants for the inlet area of the park. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will also support by planting over 2,600 trees.
New York State DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "The future Ralph Wilson Park is an exciting project with big environmental benefits to the communities surrounding it, providing new public access to the Lake Erie and Niagara River waterfronts, and outdoor education aimed at preserving our natural resources. It also supports DEC's commitment to wildlife conservation, representing a significant opportunity to restore lost and degraded fish and wildlife habitat that used to call this area home."
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