FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Funds raised support the Conservancy’s maintenance efforts to ensure the healthy and vitality of Buffalo’s Olmsted landscapes for current residents and future generations
Buffalo, NY – On Tuesday, May 14th, the 2019 park season officially began with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s 5th Annual Spring into Summer Luncheon. A sea of spring hats and colorful bowties filled the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall as the community came together in celebration of the nation’s first urban park system.
The net proceeds from the Luncheon support the Conservancy’s daily maintenance efforts. These funds ensure that Buffalo’s historic parks, parkways and circles are clean, green, safe, beautiful, and most importantly, free for all to enjoy, today and for years to come. The Spring into Summer Luncheon has become a must attend event, having sold out for three consecutive years. Special thanks to event sponsors, table captains, attendees and the Spring into Summer Committee for making this year a success.
With this event, the Conservancy also announced an exciting season of park events complete with movie nights, walking tours, the return of the popular Bark in the Park, and so much more! Information on the full event schedule can be found at www.bfloparks.org/summer2019.
“The snow has finally melted, the sun shining more and more, and our amazing parks are ready for summer fun! Tuesday’s Spring into Summer Luncheon provided the perfect venue for the community to gather, shake off the winter blues and celebrate all that is happening in our historic park system,” said Stephanie Crockatt, Executive Director of Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. “With the release of our 2019 Summer Events, we encourage everyone to mark their calendars and join us in the parks this season! I’d also like to offer special thanks to our corporate PARKners for making these fun events possible.”
“Our community is fortunate to have beautiful spaces, like the historic parks system, where children and families can spend time staying active all four seasons,” said Julie R. Snyder, Vice President, Corporate Relations, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. “As a longstanding partner of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and the City of Buffalo, we are thrilled to kick-off another summer at the MLK, Jr. Park Splash Pad, a designated BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York Healthy Zone.”
“We know families love their Olmsted Parks, and we’re thrilled that the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy sees the importance of creating activities that are free for all families to enjoy. We look forward to seeing everyone at another season of family movie nights!” said Michele Mehaffy, Buffalo Consumer Affairs Manager, Wegmans.
The Conservancy would like to give a special thanks to all their 6-7-8 Club and Summer Event Sponsors for supporting our historic parks; Bank of America, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Delaware North, M&T Bank, Rich Products, Univera Healthcare, Wegmans and YourCare Health Plan.
May
May 14th – 5th Annual Spring into Summer Luncheon
May 25th – 4th Saturday West Side Bike Tour, presented by Rich Products
May 30th – 2019 Annual Meeting
June
June 8th – 2nd Saturday Walking Tour Around Hoyt Lake, presented by M&T Bank
June 18th – State of the Parks & 5 Year Plan Reveal
June 19th – Olmsted Day at Sahlen Field with the Buffalo Bisons
June 22nd – 4th Saturday West Side Bike Tour, presented by Rich Products
June 29th – Splish Splash Summer Bash at MLK, Jr. Park, presented free by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York
July
July 13th – 2nd Saturday Walking Tour Around Hoyt Lake, presented by M&T Bank
July 27th – 4th Saturday West Side Bike Tour, presented by Rich Products
July 27th & 28th – Guided Walking Tour around the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park, presented by Wegmans
August
August 9th – Family Movie Night at Cazenovia Park, featuring Mary Poppins Returns, presented free by Wegmans
August 10th – 2nd Saturday Walking Tour Around Hoyt Lake, presented by M&T Bank
August 16th – Roll Call at Riverside Park, featuring School of Rock, presented free by YourCare Health Plan
August 17th – Frederick Law Olmsted Day – Bark in the Park and Picnic & Play in the Parks, presented free by Univera Healthcare and Spectrum News
August 19th – Family Movie Night at Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park, featuring Christopher Robin, presented free by Wegmans
August 23rd – Family Movie Night at Front Park, featuring Coco, presented free by Wegmans
August 24th – 4th Saturday West Side Bike Tour, presented by Rich Products
*All Dates and Times are Subject to Change*
For more information on Summer events visit https://www.bfloparks.org/summer2019. You can also download the official Olmsted App to access up to date news and information, and travel through the parks with Olmsted himself.
Don’t forget to tee up this summer and take advantage of three Olmsted golf courses. Visit https://www.bfloparks.org/golf/ for more information.
Join the Olmsted family and become a PARKner. Receive special perks starting today! Visit https://www.bfloparks.org/parkner/ to learn more.
###
About the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is the first nonprofit organization in the nation to manage and operate an entire urban park system consisting of more than 850 acres of beautifully designed historic parks, parkways and circles. The Conservancy is an independent not-for-profit, community organization whose mission is to promote, preserve, restore, enhance, and maintain the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks and parkways in the Greater Buffalo area for current and future generations. More than 2.5 million visits occur in Buffalo’s Olmsted Park system annually for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation. Designed by America’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted more than 150 years ago, it’s our nation’s first urban park system. Since the 2004 groundbreaking public-private partnership between the Conservancy, City of Buffalo and Erie County, the Conservancy has held responsibility for the management and care of these nationally registered historic green spaces and continues today to assist the City in bringing recognition to its collective renaissance. Most recently, the American Planning Association recognized Delaware Park as one of the 2014 Great Places in America, The Guardian publication named Buffalo’s Olmsted park system as one of the best park systems in the world, and in 2018 the Conservancy set a Guinness World Record in historic Bidwell Parkway. www.bfloparks.org
The Buffalo Olmsted Park System includes:
Six parks: Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo, Delaware Park in Delaware/Parkside District, Front Park at the Peace Bridge, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at Fillmore Avenue, Riverside Park at Niagara and Tonawanda Street, and South Park at McKinley Parkway
Seven parkways: Bidwell, Chapin, Lincoln, McKinley, Porter, Red Jacket, and Richmond
Eight landscaped traffic circles: Agassiz, Colonial, Ferry, Gates, McClellan, McKinley, Soldiers, and Symphony
