This park was created as a setting for passive recreation in surroundings that evoked an ideal rural world. A rolling meadow dotted with trees and surrounded by woods formed the eastern portion.  Olmsted said: “There is no more beautiful picture than that of a beautiful meadow, over which level-armed sheltering trees cast broad shadows.” Located west of Delaware Avenue, Olmsted and Vaux created a picturesque lake for boating in summer and skating in winter by damning the Scajaquada Creek that flowed through the site.

Olmsted had predicted that Delaware Park was destined to take a “distinguished position among the parks of the world.”  Significant features of this historic landscape are an 18-hole public golf course, the Mighty Oak, the Parkside Lodge, located on the Meadow or eastern side of the park. On the west, or Water Park as Olmsted named it, is the Japanese Garden, the Marcy Casino, the Rose Garden, a playground and a path that winds its way around Hoyt Lake.

Explore Hoyt Lake on a row boat!

Self-Guided Mobile Audio Tours 

Enjoy your historic Olmsted Parks with the free self-guided mobile audio tours of Delaware Park’s lake, meadow and Japanese Garden.

Delaware Park Audio Tour presented by M&T Bank

Japanese Garden Audio Tour presented by Wegmans

Salsa in the Park 

The 2024 season will be Mondays, June 3 – July 8th and Grand Finale Party Monday, August 19th.  Starting at 6:30 PM, a 30-minute beginner dance lesson is offered at each event in either Salsa, Bachata, or Merengue. From 7-9 PM, enjoy open social dancing to merengue, bachata, salsa, timba (Cuban salsa), cha cha cha and kizomba. No partner necessary. Beginners welcomed and encouraged.

Tickets can be purchased online starting at 3:30PM the day of each event.  Purchase your tickets here: www.sarahhaykel.com/salsainthepark/. In person tickets are available at each event starting at 6:15PM with cash, Venmo, Cash App or PayPal.

The event may be cancelled due to inclement weather by 3:30PM the day of each event. This park activity is facilitated by Salsa for the Soul, a part of Love Is Real LLC.  To reach us, please email Sarah at sarah@sarahhaykel.com

Buffalo Croquet Club 

The 2023 season is from May 15th to October 15th, Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Delaware Park Croquet Courts next to Parkside Lodge. Mondays are 6 wick and 9 wicket leagues, Wednesday is open to all players and Thursday is the golf croquet league.

For more information please visit https://instagram.com/buffalo_croquet_club?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Or email buffalocroquet@gmail.com

Shakespeare in the Park

The 2024 season will be The Winter’s Tale, directed by Kate Powers, June 20, 2024 – July 14, 2024 -and- The Comedy of Errors, directed by Lawrence Gregory Smith, July 25, 2024 – August 18, 2024. Performances begin at 7:15PM, Tuesday-Sunday evenings. All performances are FREE, non-ticketed and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chaired seating.

Learn more: https://shakespeareindelawarepark.org/season/2024-49th-season/

The Terrace and Rose Garden

Open year-round, The Terrace is a full-service restaurant, bar and catering facility overlooking Hoyt Lake. The Rose Garden can be booked for weddings by contacting info@terracebuffalo.com

For more information please visit: https://www.terracebuffalo.com/