Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's set to be a milestone weekend ahead for the City of Buffalo and the new Ralph Wilson Centennial Park.
More than two years after ground broke on the new 100-acre park in Buffalo's West Side neighborhood - a large chunk of it being the old LaSalle Park - the first part of the park is set to open this Saturday along 4th Street. The city and the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy will officially cut the ribbon and welcome back the community to Buffalo's newest playground.
"This playground was designed by our community, especially a number of our students at School No. 3, in partnership with KABOOM! - a national organization dedicated to increasing amazing play space - and with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and their Built to Play initiative," said Katie Campos, executive director of the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy. "And it was built by our community over a period of three days. Hundreds of community members, including a number of D'Youville's student athletes, came out to build this playground. They put mulch in place, they poured concrete, and you're seeing the final pieces right now."
Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon says this project, as a whole, is the result of the sharing of ideas, and seeing people's dreams come true through that hard work. But there is something more special for residents to experience this weekend.
"From 1 p.m.-to-3 p.m., we'll be open for a one day only community preview, giving residents the opportunity to have a first look at this remarkable transformation," said Scanlon on Tuesday. "Visitors will be able to walk across the Ralph Wilson Park Bridge, which arrived here just about a year ago, take in the beautiful waterfront views, and see the ball fields and other amenities that are coming to life. While the lakeside part of the park will remain closed as construction continues, the bridge will provide a spectacular vantage point for people to see the progress that's coming along. This park is an active construction site, but we wanted to open up the gates and give the community an opportunity to come in and take a look at this amazing transformation that's taking place behind us."
John Koelmel, vice-chair for the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy Board of Directors, promises residents that they'll be dazzled by the progress made to this point.
"The views are spectacular, and I'm glad we've got opportune weather for that, and they're only going to get so much better in the months and years ahead," said Koelmel on Tuesday. "We encourage you to join us Saturday to celebrate the new playground, and take a first walk across the bridge. Weather forecast looks great, warm and sunny. It'll be the first of many, many great experiences and memories for everyone here at the park. And it'll be just the beginning of what another great story of what is possible when we all come together and deliver great outcomes for the people of Buffalo and Western New York."
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation life trustee Mary Wilson says all walks of life will enjoy this park, and it is a testament to what Ralph ultimately wanted to achieve for Buffalo - an opportunity to bring the community together.
"When the foundation saw this park, this blank canvas that we could invest part of our $100 million that went to parks and trails, part of that is an endowment to maintain this park. And exactly the Conservancy, one of their biggest jobs in the future and even now, is conserving and making this park always being maintained beautifully," Wilson said.
The playground along 4th Street will remain open for the public as construction with the rest of the park will continue.