FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The First Commemorative Space of Its Kind in Delaware Park
Media Contact: Therese Fuerst, Fuerst Consulting Corp., 716.200.3593
(Buffalo, NY) – The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy joined today by the Siegel Family and community leaders, announced a new commemorative project at Hoyt Lake, The Siegel Landing. The first of its kind in Delaware Park, The Landing was conceived by Herb Siegel, a well-respected local attorney, philanthropist and founder of the Herb and Aaron Siegel Foundation. His life-long support of our Western New York community and the Olmsted Parks Conservancy has spanned decades.
“The Siegels have been incredible supporters of the Conservancy, and we are proud to be launching this restoration and sustainability endeavor with them in support of the Olmsted park system,” said Stephanie Crockatt, Executive Director. “The Conservancy has a master plan listing over $428 million in approved projects, not to mention the new ideas hatched by park users every day. If like Siegel Landing, every project or idea for the parks came with a gift covering construction, incorporated a fundraising mechanism for the Conservancy, and included a maintenance endowment, we would be in heaven.”
The Landing, located along the western shore of Hoyt Lake, is an idyllic setting in Delaware Park where loved ones, organizations, and special life events can be honored through the purchase of a paver. Unique to Delaware Park, the Landing will be a paved mosaic celebrating the people and occasions that mark our lives.
“As a long standing board member of the Conservancy I like to remind people that 60% of our funding is raised from scratch every year,” stated Aaron Siegel of the Herb & Aaron Siegel Foundation. “My father’s passion for the Olmsted Parks and his past board service to the Conservancy lead us to create a contribution that would last our lifetime, our children’s lifetime and beyond.”
Conservancy supporters are heralding this type of gift as the “trifecta” – an initial gift to rehabilitate the commemorative space, a fundraising mechanism for sustainability, and an endowment to ensure maintenance in perpetuity.
“The generosity of the Siegel family is wonderful news for the historic Olmsted Park system as the Conservancy continues to manage one of Buffalo’s greatest assets,” Mayor Byron W. Brown said. “This ‘Pave the Way’ funding initiative also includes a community fundraising component, which will aid the Conservancy in meeting the funding challenge my Administration included the City of Buffalo’s $1 million for the Conservancy in the current budget year. If the Conservancy raises $200,000, we will provide an additional $100,000.”
This restorative project at Hoyt Lake, is testimonial to the philanthropic legacy of Herb Siegel while also demonstrating the exact kind of fundraising support the Conservancy as a nonprofit needs for park projects.
“Today we celebrate alongside the Siegel Family at Hoyt Lake, one of the most serene and picturesque locations in the City of Buffalo,” stated Delaware District Councilman, Joel P. Feroleto. “Neighbors and visitors now have even more to enjoy at this historic location in our City and our Olmsted parks enjoy financial support as well, an ideal scenario.”
There will be an official ribbon cutting of the first phase installation in June to coincide with Father’s Day. Full details on The Siegel Landing and the opportunity to purchase a paver can be found at bfloparks.wpengine.com/buyapaver.
Please click here to download a rendering and layout of the Siegel Landing.
Photos from the press conference are available at the following links:
Photo 1: Aaron Siegel at the podium
Photo 3: Shana Siegel, Aaron Siegel, Stephanie Crockatt
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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 that consists of 850 acres of beautifully designed historic parks, parkways and circles. Celebrating its 150th Anniversary in 2018, The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is a not-for-profit, membership-based, 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 people use Buffalo’s historic, award-winning Olmsted Park system annually for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation. The parks were designed by America’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted more than 148 years ago. Basic maintenance of the parks has been greatly improved since the 2004 groundbreaking public-private agreement with the City of Buffalo and Erie County. Since that time, the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, now partnering with the City of Buffalo, has retained full responsibility for the management and care of these green spaces which are listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Most recently, the American Planning Association recognized Delaware Park as one of the 2014 Great Places in America and The Guardian named the Olmsted park system as one of the best park systems in the world. bfloparks.wpengine.com
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
