Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As activist groups like the East Side Parkways Coalition fight the state's plan to put a tunnel over a portion of the Kensington Expressway, more would have to be done to accomplish their goal of restoring Humboldt Parkway.
The state says the tunnel would stretch from Sidney Street to Dodge Street. Humboldt Parkway extends much further than that, though.
"Our vision from the start was to restore the original Olmsted Parkway from Agassiz Circle to the Museum of Science so that you could walk from park to park as the original parkway system was," says Terry Robinson from the East Side Parkways Coalition.
Money wouldn't be an issue, Robinson tells us. He says the money delegated to building the tunnel over the 33 can also be used on overhauling the 198.
"They've already included the Kensington Expressway project...in the five year capital budget for the Department of Transportation that was passed in the 22-23 fiscal year, so the money is there," says Robinson.
Local and state preservation groups are committing to the project. Robinson says the New York State Preservation League has placed Humboldt Parkway on its "Seven to Save" list for 2025-26. The Preservation League of WNY and WNY Environmental Alliance will also campaign for the parkway's restoration.