13 hours ago
First phase of Ralph Wilson Park project expected to open next summer
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Trees are planted, grass is growing and construction is continuing on as the vision for the Ralph Wilson Park is coming alive.
The first phase is expected to open in summer 2026. The second phase is expected to start construction this fall to be completed at the end of 2027 or early 2028.
'It's transformational,' said Buffalo Common Council Member David Rivera, who had a tour of the construction site on Wednesday. 'I grew up in this park. I've lived across the street in the Lakeview Projects many many years ago and I know that people are going to be impressed.'
The Ralph Wilson Conservancy expects the project to be around $200 million and calls the transformation a once in a generational investment.
'I think when the community sees what we've designed together, this is our park that we've built together, they're going to be blown away by the shoreline,' said Katie Campos, the executive director of Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy. 'It's stunning — the armored stone coming up, the elevation, all of the hills, all of the trees, the inlet where there's new fishing and grasses — what we're seeing just is incredible.'
The park will open in phases, with the first phase including the opening of the new pedestrian bridge over the 1-90, sports fields and their reconfiguration of the shoreline.
'Restoring the shoreline was about structural resiliency. This is a park that used to be battered by the weather. This is one of the harshest weather areas in the City of Buffalo, and it was closed frequently or it was being destroyed,' Campos said. 'By elevating the park, by putting in hills by building an armored shoreline, the shoreline kind of comes out of the water with big, big boulders that absorb all of the wave energy coming off of the lake and it keeps the park intact. It's a sustainability feature so this park will be enjoyed by our grandkids' grandkids' grandkids.'
The conservancy said that it has created hills up to 30 feet high and there will be 2,000 new trees, all native species, planted.
The conservancy said it is continuing community engagement and will be releasing an 'All Shored Up' beer with Buffalo Brewing. For more information about the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy, visit its website here.
Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.
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