FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kicking off summer with our community at the MLK splash pad
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(BUFFALO, NY) — Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy’s Splish Splash Summer Bash 2017 held at MLK Jr. Park celebrates the start of summer and school summer vacation. Activities included the BlueCross BlueShield Healthy Zone Cruiser, free face-painting, balloon art, arts and crafts and healthy snacks from Ashker’s and James Desiderio Inc. The festivities are held in collaboration with BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and the City of Buffalo.
“We are celebrating our 7th year of corporate partnership with BlueCross BlueShield in support of Olmsted’s historic Humboldt basin, and the 5th year of this splish splash healthy zone in MLK Jr. Park,” said Stephanie Crockatt, executive director, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. “What a great achievement! This summer at MLK is very special place to be as we look to unveil the restored Casino, and I want to thank Mayor Byron Brown and the City of Buffalo, as well as the special funding provided by Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples Stokes. These types of public-private-nonprofit partnerships continue to make such a critical difference here at MLK, and across the Olmsted park system.”
“I thank BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy for partnering with my Administration to preserve and promote this world-class community attraction for our City residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Mayor Byron W. Brown. “We take great pride in the MLK Splash Pad and the many other community investments we are spearheading in Buffalo to enhance the quality of life for all of our residents.”
The five-acre MLK splash pad, a designated BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York Healthy Zone, is part of the city’s $4.5 million all-season water attraction that opened during the summer of 2013. It is a reflecting pool during the spring and fall, and an old-fashioned ice rink during the winter.
“Now that summer is officially here, we are ready to kick off another season of fun at the MLK Jr. Park Splash Pad,” said Julie R. Snyder, vice president, corporate relations, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with Olmsted Parks Conservancy and the City of Buffalo to ensure that the community has a great destination to visit to stay cool and active all summer long.”
Beginning June 26, 2017 through Labor Day, the splash pad will be open everyday from 11:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. (weather dependent).
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MLK Jr. Park Splash Pad History
The present brick casino was constructed between the lily pond and the wading pool in 1926. In 1956, the first of Buffalo’s refrigerated outdoor artificial ice rinks was constructed on the site of the lily basin. The lily pool was partly filled and a wading pool was constructed at its eastern end. The wading pool was partially filled, and transformed into a smaller circular concrete spray pool, while its grand dimensions and grassy banks were retained. For updates on the splash pad opening hours, call 716-838-1249 ext. 17 or visit bfloparks.wpengine.com. For more information, call the Supervisor of Rinks and Pools at 716-851–5998 or visit www.city-buffalo.com (keyword search: “pools”).
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. 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
