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#SaveDelawarePark & Rte 198 Resources

Latest Update, Jan 8, 2018: NYS DOT Region 5 Director, Frank Cirillo, announces that the DOT will “hit the ‘reset’ button and begin a fresh dialogue with stakeholders“.

Thank you to all who have supported our efforts. Lets keep the momentum going and ensure that our city and community receives the best plan possible for the Scajaquada Corridor. Please check back this page for more information on next steps.

Click here to read the BOPC’s official statement following NYS DOT’s announcement on Jan 8, 2018.

What happened in the 1950s?

Buffalo’s beautiful park system was designed 150 years ago by America’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. In the 1950’s, construction of the Scajaquada Expressway divided and destroyed acres of parkland the jewel of Olmsted’s system, Delaware Park.

Before this campaign launched, what has the BOPC and its community partners done for this topic?

Re-design of the 198 Scajaquada Expressway in Buffalo has been under study by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) for over 15 years. Two years ago, a fatal crash prompted a series of reforms designed to enhance public safety along this intrusive corridor. Thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Byron Brown’s leadership, temporary measures were quickly put in place while NYS DOT developed a long-term plan for a reduced roadway.

Why are we doing this campaign now?

The proposal on the Scajaquada Corridor released by NYS DOT falls far short of what was promised and fails to correct mistakes that date back to the 1950’s – when the Scajaquada Expressway divided and destroyed acres of parkland in Delaware Park, cut off residential sectors from the park, creek and waterfront, obliterated Humboldt Parkway, limited access to Main Street, and bisected established neighborhoods.

Right now, we have an unprecedented opportunity to reverse this mistake and restore Olmsted’s legacy. We won’t have this chance again for another 75 years.

Tell me more about the #SaveDelawarePark campaign. The #SaveDelawarePark campaign is an effort to Save Delaware Park from NYS DOT’s short-sighted plan. We want to:

Convince the NYS DOT to rethink its current short-sighted plan
Join with the community on a comprehensive approach that would reunite the park and reconnect the community, improve accessibility through safe complete streets, and enhance the economic vitality of this corridor for our City.

I would like to contact someone from the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. Who can I reach out to?

Please contact Brian Dold, Director of Advocacy & Planning at Brian@bfloparks.org

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events scheduled.

Past Community Events

January 2, 2018: Brian Dold, Director of Advocacy & Planning presented to the Buffalo Common Council Community Development Committee on Rte 198. This meeting was held at the Council Chamber in City Hall

December 13, 2017: Urban Planning & Community Engagement Forum on the Scajaquada Corridor, featuring Ian Lockwood, P.E. | Watch the Facebook Live Stream here | Watch the video recordings of the event in HD on YouTube

November 23, 2017: #SaveDelawarePark at Turkey Trot | View photos here.

November 18, 2017: #SaveDelawarePark Rally at Delaware Park Meadow | View photos here.

November 8, 2017: Community Forum, hosted by BOPC and ROCC

For any inquiries, please contact Zhi Phua at Zhi@bfloparks.org or (716) 838-1249, ext. 31.

Ways to Support – Read below or click to download this flyer!

SIGN the petition

Get your friends to sign the petition to Save Delaware Park: http://bit.ly/SaveDelPark
Suggested Twitter/Facebook/Instagram post: Help reconnect communities, improve accessibility & enhance economic vitality. Sign the petition http://bit.ly/SaveDelPark & #SaveDelawarePark

COLLECT a #SaveDelawarePark lawn sign for your yard

Visit the Parkside Lodge in Delaware Park (84 Parkside Avenue) during office hours (Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., except holidays) to pick up your #SaveDelawarePark lawn sign (right photo). You may also email Zhi Phua at Zhi@bfloparks.org to make an appointment.

CALL your local representatives

Mon: Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes > 716 – 897 – 9714
Tues:   Senator Tim Kennedy > 716 – 826 – 2683
Wed:   Governor Andrew Cuomo > 518 – 474 – 8390
Thur:   Assemblymember Sean Ryan > 716 – 885 – 9630
Fri: State Senator Chris Jacobs > 716 – 854 – 8705

Key messages:

In the 1950’s, construction of the Scajaquada Expressway divided and destroyed acres of parkland the jewel of Olmsted’s system, Delaware Park.
Right now, we have an unprecedented opportunity to reverse this mistake and restore Olmsted’s legacy – but only if we can convince the Governor to help us Save Delaware Park.
Please tell DOT to rethink its current short-sighted plan and join with the community on a comprehensive approach. We won’t have this chance again for another 75 years.

TWEET to Governor Cuomo

Show your support for the campaign using the hashtag #SaveDelawarePark.
Suggested Twitter post: We need your leadership @NYGovCuomo. Reconnect communities & enhance economic vitality. Stop @NYSDOT & help us #SaveDelawarePark.

SHARE on your social media profiles

The campaign to Save Delaware Park went NATIONAL – appearing on the cover of the style section of the Sunday (10/22) New York Times. Tweet a link to the article and share on Facebook!
Suggested Twitter/Facebook post: The campaign to restore Olmsted’s legacy in Buffalo just went national. Read about the effort to #SaveDelawarePark @ http://nyti.ms/2gX0h6h

Press Coverage

Please click here to download a PDF of a compilation of news coverage. Last updated November 27, 2017.