In Buffalo NY, there are many historic landmarks that require special attention and care. This includes restoring the exterior and interior of these buildings. This requires a lot of work and time.

The Restoration in Buffalo NY is a peer-operated community agency offering recovery services for adults 18 years and older in Western New York. The agency also operates the Harbor House Resource Center to address and resolve homelessness.

Erie County Natural Habitat Parks

The Buffalo River flows through the heart of this city, providing a scenic waterfront and a natural harbor for pleasure boats and world-wide shipping freighters. The area is also home to a variety of flora and fauna, including many rare species, and is a key component of the Great Lakes migratory bird flyway.

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper secured grant funding to help revitalize and improve the habitat at the Buffalo River Natural Habitat Parks at Thomas Higgins, Bailey Peninsula, Radio Tower Bay and Lower Black River. Implementation of these projects will decrease the prevalence of fish and wildlife reproductive issues, tumors and other deformities in the RiverBend Area of Concern (AOC), while restoring valuable shallow-water habitat and reducing sediment deposition along the banks of the Buffalo River.

At the Bailey Peninsula, a series of bendway weirs will be constructed to encourage the movement of sediment and restore critical shallow-water habitat that was lost during dredging. Submerged aquatic vegetation and emergent sedges will be planted in the area, and large woody debris will be placed to improve habitat connectivity in the area.

In addition, a series of floating docks and a new three-season shelter will be installed at the Bailey Peninsula to provide opportunities for low-impact recreational activities. The existing parking lot at the park will be reconfigured and improved for better access to these amenities.

JM Davidson Engineering, DPC was subcontracted to develop a Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study for the front parking lot portion of the Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park in Buffalo. The study will focus on maximizing the potential to reduce stormwater runoff in this heavily urbanized area, and will assist the County in its application for GIGP funding from New York State.

Last spring, a generous landowner donated an eight-acre forest on a bluff overlooking the shore of Lake Erie in Derby to the Western New York Land Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation organization that preserves forests, farms and other landscapes for future generations. The Land Conservancy partnered with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper to complete an ecological assessment and invasive species inventory for the property, and will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other project partners to develop a restoration design for the property.

Thomas Higgins Park

In the 19th century, Buffalo became a national powerhouse due to the Erie Canal and its heavy industry. Over time however, this once mighty city began to crumble, as the canal traffic faded and heavy industries relocated to cheaper locations in the South and Midwest. By the 1970s, the city was struggling. Dozens of factories had closed and the population had dipped from 580,000 to less than half of its peak in the mid-1900s.

In order to reverse this downward trend, city leaders and community activists joined together to promote economic growth and community development. In addition, the city’s citizens fought to keep local culture and heritage alive. They created a network of parks and greenways that helped revitalize the city. The Thomas Higgins Park was one of these projects.

This park is located near the Bailey Avenue Bridge at the confluence of the Buffalo River and Cazenovia Creek. This Erie County park is used for passive recreation such as fishing and walking. It does not have any launch facilities at this time, but there are plans to allow paddle sport launching in the future.

The ten-story building exhibits many character-defining features of Beaux-Arts style architecture. Its primary facades are clad in reinforced concrete and embellished with a classical base-shaft capital composition, pairs of single, one-over-one windows, and ornamental elevator doors and railings.

In addition, the building has a monumental entrance tower and two interior concourse clocks. In 2005, the CTRC was able to purchase the original concourse clock on eBay out of Chicago, and through fundraising was able to restore it to its location at the BCT. The CTRC has also hosted a variety of events such as tours, art shows, local political fundraisers, and annual Dyngus Day, Oktoberfest, and train shows.

Red Jacket Natural Habitat Park

Red Jacket is a great place to watch boats and birds along the Buffalo River. Its varying terrain and wet areas attract a variety of species, especially during the spring when common terns are nesting, and common mergansers are on the move. Look across the ponds toward the railroad line to find a swamp sparrow, or search for wood ducks in the trees.

A few blocks south of busy South Park Avenue, this site is one of the most remote of the Buffalo River parks. Although it has a parking lot, there is no formal boat launch at this location, and access to the area is limited. This is a great opportunity for fishing and kayaking, but it is not for motorized boat launching.

The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning partnered with the Buffalo Blueway to improve access and habitat at this park. The first step in this process was dredging, which removed contaminated sediments from the river bottom. The next step was to restore the area with a combination of habitat and recreational improvements. The park will feature upgraded trails, an informal kayak launch, a green infrastructure parking area and a living fence line to deter the spread of invasive plants.

The park will also include a new picnic shelter, a paved walkway and overlook, and an ADA-accessible picnic table. Several large shade trees will be planted and some of the existing vegetation will be enhanced. This is a great addition to the Buffalo Blueway network, and will allow more people to enjoy the shoreline of the Buffalo River.