bFLO Times: September/October ’16 Issue
Happy Fall to All! … actually where I moved from in Georgia it was Happy Fall Y’all as the saying goes. November is here and we are working in “Thanks for Giving” style here at the Conservancy. There are so many of you to thank for a great year. Tuesday, November 15, is National Philanthropy Day and we hope you will consider making a charitable contribution to support the Conservancy.
As you’ll read from the newsletter below, we have some amazing projects and people associated with our park system, and with all these gifts of resources we are able to make a transformational difference that is visible every day throughout all 850 acres. We have recently recalibrated our Operational Staff and will have a full announcement of our team in January’s newsletter edition; these are the folks who make it all happen.
Cheers to the stunning fall color we’ve been seeing, and thank you for sending in such beautiful pictures of the parks. Keep them coming – Olmsted’s treasures really are stunning. We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season, since it will be here before we snow – I mean, know – it! As we enter 2017, get ready to hear more about plans for the 2018: 150th Sesquicentennial Celebration of Olmsted in Buffalo. There are great things ahead! Thank you for all your support.
Yours sincerely,
Stephanie Crockatt
Executive Director
P.S. Oh yea, and don’t forget to holler as you go under the Delaware Bridge during the Turkey Trot – we’ll be there cheering you on!
National Philanthropy Day: Nov 15, 2016
This month we celebrate National Philanthropy Day on Nov 15. Ever wondered how easy it is to support the parks you love? We hope you will do your part to help us keep your Olmsted parks beautiful, as over 60% of our budget rely on donations.
Make a fast and secure donation here.
Text to 56512: BOPC
Call Jessica Juliano at 716.838.1249, ext. 22.
Support your Conservancy while shopping for year-end gifts on Amazon!
What’s Happening at Olmsted?
OLMSTED’S NEW DISTRICT SUPERVISORS
The Conservancy is excited to announce four new district supervisors of our Olmsted Park System. District supervisors are responsible for the operational management of the parks, features, and the employees within their assigned District. They oversee all park operations staff and labor involved in day to day operation and maintenance, they provide mentoring, training, and hold responsibility over equipment upkeep and overall park performance standards for their district. Supervisors will collaborate and give in-the-field insight on existing and proposed park projects, priorities, and scheduled improvements for operational considerations and successful implementation.
- District 1 supervisor, Riverside Park, Front Park, Prospect Park, Columbus Park, Days Park: Humbert Baez
- District 2 supervisor South Park, Cazenovia Park, Heacock Park: PJ McParlane
- District 3 supervisor, MLK Jr. Park, seven parkways and eight circles: Eileen Martin
- District 4 supervisor, Delaware Park (north and south): Brian Jenkins
‘BUNKA NO HI’, JAPAN CULTURE DAY
Join us on Sunday, November 6, to celebrate the Japanese culture via several family-friendly and fun-filled activities! They include origami, calligraphy, traditional tea and more.
Japanese Garden in Delaware Park
Date: November 6, 2016
Venue: The Buffalo History Museum, 1 Museum Court, Buffalo, NY 14216
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Find out more at: https://www.bfloparks.org/event/olmsted-event-japan-culture-day-bunka-no-hi/
A LECTURE ON THE LOST QUARRY GARDEN IN DELAWARE PARK BY SAM VALENTINE
Did you know that the stone bridges by the Parkside Lodge in Delaware Park spanned a quarry garden in the 1900s? The quarry was filled in during the construction of the Scajaquada Expressway. This fall, join us as landscape architect Sam Valentine shares his research on this beautiful and hidden part of Olmsted’s masterpiece. This is event is supported through the generosity of Corinne & Victor Rice.
Date: November 12, 2016
Venue: The Buffalo History Museum, 1 Museum Court, Buffalo, NY 14216
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
It is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jessica at (716) 838-1249, ext. 22 or email jessica@bfloparks.org
Tree-lighting at MLK Jr. Park, fall 2015
1ST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN WONDERLAND AT MLK JR. PARK
Join the fun of the holidays and the merriment of giving with the JES Breathe Block Club and Fillmore Forward for the 1st annual Christmas in Wonderland at Martin Luther King Jr. Park! Enjoy a tree lighting with Crystal People-Stokes, carolers from around the neighborhood and a chance to spend some quality time with your community with this free event. Special thanks to National Grid for grant support.
Date: December 3, 2016
Venue: MLK Jr. Park, Fillmore Ave. & Best Street
Start Time: 3:00 p.m., tree-lighting at 4:30 p.m.
View photos from last year’s tree lighting at MLK Jr. Park at https://flic.kr/s/aHskqnkFiu
VOLUNTEERISM IN OUR PARKS
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy began as an all-volunteer organization 37 years ago called the “Buffalo Friends of Olmsted Parks.” Every garden, every pathway, every building, every open lawn, every tree, and every waters edge has been touched by a volunteer at some point in the Buffalo Olmsted Park System history. THANK YOU volunteers!
These past two months, we had the following groups of volunteers out in our parks:
Volunteers from Stantec at Riverside Park
Volunteers from Mount Mercy Academy at Cazenovia Park
Volunteers from Ernst & Young at Delaware Park
Volunteers from Nichols School at Delaware Park
If you or your group are interested to find out more about volunteering for the Conservancy, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Andrew Lloyd at Andrew@bfloparks.org
Featured Park: Cazenovia Park
Around 1888, Frederick Law Olmsted was commissioned to provide a study for an existing area next to a new residential area called “Cazenovia Park”, in the Thirteenth Ward. Park Superintendent, William McMillan, proposed that the city purchase this land for future park development and to maintain the “goodly number of thrifty trees of fair size and fine form”. Finally, in 1892, the 76-acre land space was officially named as “Cazenovia Park”. An additional 30 acres and 80 acres were added in 1895 and 1925 respectively.
ONGOING PROJECT: CAZENOVIA PARK SHELTER HOUSE RESTORATION
Cazenovia Park shelter house then and now
Goal of project: To renovate and restore the building to provide handicap-accessible restroom facilities and an accessible entrance. New replacement window sash and doors will restore the historic appearance of the shelter, as will the new roof which will be a replica of the original red slate roof. The exterior wood trim will be painted to match the colors of the original paint scheme.
History of the shelter house: Built in 1902, the Cazenovia Park Shelter House was designed by Green & Wicks, perhaps the best known architectural firm of that time. Green & Wicks had just completed the Marcy Casino in Delaware Park, in time for the Pan American Exposition in 1901, and had designed the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, which was under construction at the time.
OTHER FUN FACTS
- Four baseball diamonds and three tennis courts were laid out in Cazenovia Park in 1915.
- Skating and winter sports were popular activities in the park from its earliest days. A temporary wooden toboggan slide, 65 feet long and 25 feet high was erected for sledding. The parks commission rented election booths as warming huts for skaters in 1910.
- By 1935, the facilities in the park for organized athletics included two baseball diamonds, three softball diamonds, two football fields, eight tennis courts and a nine-hole golf course. The park’s 3,058 yard, par 36 golf course was constructed on an 80-acre addition to the park acquired in 1925 from the Town of West Seneca.
- In 1948, the South Buffalo Businessmen’s Association sponsored the first South Buffalo Day at Cazenovia Park. The program included athletic events, swimming contests, a beauty pageant, dancing, fireworks, and a concert. In 1981, the tradition was revived as what was then known as the “Sunday in the Park” annual event. Attendance over the years has reached as many as 125,000 people.
Information adapted from http://www.buffaloah.com/a/landmks/caz/caz.html, http://smbroderick.com/originalolmsted/CazenoviaPark.htm and the Cazenovia Park Master Plan Report (May 9, 1997)
Meet Jessica Juliano, Development Officer for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
We are pleased to welcome Jessica to our team this fall.
Jessica by the stone bridges outside the Parkside Lodge
bFLO Times: Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you became involved with the Conservancy?
JJ: Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, I graduated from Nardin Academy in 2009, and left Buffalo to attend The University of Louisville, where I graduated with a degree in Sports Management. Following that, I headed back to Buffalo where I started my MBA at Canisius College while working as an Assistant Rowing and Swim Coach at Nardin Academy, and interned with Girls on the Run. I began an internship with UB Athletics that transitioned into a full time position as an Assistant Director of Development. After two exciting years in Collegiate Athletics, I began my role here at the Conservancy as Development Officer!
bFLO Times: What are the roles and responsibilities of the Conservancy’s Development Officer?
JJ: As Development Officer for the Conservancy, I oversee and manage strategic components for philanthropy. I am creating awareness for the needs of the Conservancy as well as obtaining funds to support our operations.
bFLO Times: You recently joined the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, what is something new about the Conservancy that you have learned so far?
JJ: Each park is very different from the next. Each park has its own needs. Collectively, it is very important that we are receiving community support in order to maintain our current park projects and move forward with our plan to restore the park system. We need members of our community to volunteer, donate and become members to help keep our parks green and safe!
Chapin Parkway (Fall 2016)
bFLO Times: What do the Olmsted parks give you?
JJ: Growing up in Buffalo, I utilized the parks in so many different ways over the years. My grandparents lived across from Cazenovia Park. I spent almost every weekend in the park. When I entered high school, Nardin utilized Front Park and Delaware Park for after school sport practices. I now live in the city and every day I run or walk down the parkways, around the circles and through many of the parks.
“The parks are my escape from the chaos of the city.” – Jessica Juliano
There is an unexplainable feeling I get when walking around a park after a long day. It provides a calm and beautiful environment that connects so many different areas of the city.
bFLO Times: What is your favorite Olmsted park, parkways or circle, and why?
JJ: Chapin Parkway is one of my favorite places to walk in the city. On Saturday mornings after a long walk down Elmwood, Chapin Parkway is a beautiful place to feel like you are escaping the hustle and bustle of the Elmwood Village. The beautiful trees that line the parkway, surrounded by beautiful historic homes, are so peaceful.
Olmsted Angel: Buffalo Kiwanis Club
Thank you for restoring the playground shelter in Delaware Park, Buffalo Kiwanis Club!
bFLO Times: Can you tell us a little bit about your club’s background and how you became involved with the Conservancy?
BKC: The Buffalo Kiwanis Club Celebrated its 100-year Anniversary this year. The primary purpose of Kiwanis is to improve the quality of life for children and families worldwide,” serving children of the world”. Our club’s driving mission is providing direct services (hands on approach) and support for local children, women, and families to make Buffalo/WNY a better place to live. Our club also supports national/ international projects through our State and International Kiwanis organization. Our Club has 10-15 local service projects we support annually.
We support the Olmsted Park Conservancy’s initiatives because it makes a big difference to the quality of life in the neighborhood.
“Today with the Conservancy, there is focus on quality of life, and apart from that there is public space for everybody to use. How we take care of public property makes a big difference to people’s outlook.” – Bill Schultz
bFLO Times: What have you done so far for the playground shelter in Delaware Park?
BKC: Our club completed a restoration of a shelter in Delaware Park at the children’s playground area off Parkside Avenue on September 24, 2016. Our club rebuilt the roof decking, supplied new shingles, replaced missing/broken supports, and straightened the posts and framing. Elmwood Avenue’s Home Depot donated the stain and discounted some of the other supplies. Our volunteers included: Stan Thompson, Stan’s son Scott and grandson Jason (who are contractors), Chris Albee, Earl Lynch, John Vogel, Alex Schultz, and Drew Lindstrom. The shelter should be good for another 30 years. Olmsted’s Delaware Park, around Hoyt & Mirror Lakes, and the green space provides everyone the opportunity to enjoy nature.
The playground in Delaware Park. The restored shelter is on the right. (Fall 2016)
bFLO Times: What do your Olmsted Parks give you?
BKC: All of the Olmsted parks, all of the parks in Buffalo, my children used them a lot. It is a place for families and neighborhood to get together. Socially, it is a safe place for children to enjoy athletics. The more we can do to have green space available, that only increases the quality of life for our neighborhood and community.
bFLO Times: Do you have a favorite Olmsted park, parkway or landscaped circle, and why?
BKC: Delaware Park. We go there for walks. Lots of trees and lots of green space.
bFLO Times: Do you have anything else you would like to share with our readers?
BKC: If more people get involved and do give up a little bit of time, it will only help to further reach out to our community.
If you’re interested to find out more about the Buffalo Kiwanis Club, please contact club president, Rudi Rainer, for more information.
Thanks for loving your Olmsted parks!
Help us preserve Olmsted’s work of art for tomorrow. Make a donation or become a member today.
Colonial Circle, photo by Ed Healy, @ehelios
Martin Luther King Jr. Park, photo by Billy Sandora-Nastyn, @billybobn
Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park, photo by Rosalle, @buffalocakepops
The parks are for everyone to enjoy, please continue to love our award-winning parks and remember to:
- Leash your dog and clean up after them.
- Tote or take your trash.
Your support is greatly appreciated.
Special Thanks to Our 2016 Sponsors
