Category Archives: Special Events

Niagara St Adopt-A-Block

We love our Niagara Street cycle track but it could use a bit more love from all of us. Although the City of Buffalo does some maintenance, and the Buffalo Sewer Authority works on the stormwater gardens, trash, glass and grit builds up quickly. We’re delighted that the Niagara River Greenway is organizing a collaboration of businesses, organizations and individuals to adopt bits of the blocks. Folks will take responsibility for a section of the trail and help keep it in better shape for bicyclists and pedestrians.

March 23rd from 10am to noon, teams will spread out from Busti Avenue to Hertel Avenue on Niagara Street for a spring clean up. Gloves, garbage bags and high-vis vests will be provided to volunteers. Folks can pick one of three sections to help out:

  1. Busti to Breckenridge – meet at Rich Products
  2. Breckenridge to Amherst St – meet at Campus Wheelworks
  3. Amherst St to Hertel – meet at Black Rock Riverside Alliance

 

Lunch options with discounts available at Mint Mojito Bar, Free Street Tavern, West Side Bazaar* (*limited swag bags) and Turning Bridge Tavern.

It doesn’t have to be this way…

As seen in the image above, highway ramps dominate the western section of the Scajaquada corridor, Wasted land, cut-off neighborhoods and a polluted creek are a few of the conditions as a result of Rte. 198. As part of Scajaquada Corridor Coalition, we studied maps, collected input and envisioned a different landscape.

GBNRTC presented recommendations for the Scajaquada corridor and we couldn’t be more pleased. With the help of Stantec, a global consulting firm, they analyzed the region in terms of its people, rather than just cars. The data and analysis is available for examination on GBNRTC’s website. The preferred plan calls for a two-lane boulevard, connecting neighborhoods and Olmsted Park and the removal of these ramps.

Questions and comments can be made on-line. We’re pleased that Hal Morse, who led the project for GBNRTC, will be attending our January 24 meetup. Bring your questions and comments. Spread the word and your support for this generational change.

What’s next in the process?•Public engagement regarding recommendations •Assemble full report and documentation •Reconcile project to environmental review process and funding •Prepare a detailed traffic analysis to assess impacts of traffic diversion and recommend mitigation measures necessary to address the impacts •Obtain stakeholder and public consensus on the recommended mitigation measures •Determine projects owners and resource needs •Build Action Matrix of key stakeholders to implement all initiatives •Establish continuing mechanism to ensure timely completion of project

Signing As Art

Something amazing is happening on the West Side. Kamil Gerald offers free signing lessons at various locations. The photograph of Kamil conveys just a smidgen of her enthusiasm and effectiveness. She began her project “to bring hearing loss awareness to the community and how to communicate with the hearing loss community effectively.”  We became aware of Ms Gerald’s work through Creative Mornings’ founder, Kelly Atkinson. If you don’t know about CM, check them out, too! We’ve met amazing people in the community thanks to their monthly programming – the 2nd Friday of the month.

Kamil Gerald was recently awarded a grant through the Awesome Foundation. She will also have an event at Community Beer Works this Friday, October 21 6-10 pm. Fall Festive REMIX.

What is Possible for Scajaquada Corridor?

May 4th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Buffalo State Alumni Center

Four mobility scenarios will be presented. Roads, cars, bikes, people, water, land, neighborhoods, air, space, quality of life….the list goes on regarding the future of this corridor and our city. Public comment will be part of the decision making which is why we all need to be part of the process.

Presentation will be by GBNRTC.

Scajaquada Corridor Coalition has developed a vision for the corridor that is community based and compelling. Our Niagara Street corridor is impacted by the #198 which is why Vision Niagara is part of the Scajaquada Corridor Coalition and its vision.

 

Brush Up Broderick Returns!

Our beautiful Broderick Park is ready to be spruced up for summer events. Friends of Broderick Park is lining up a packed summer of music, art, and performance.

We’ll be at the park April 30, from 10 to 1:00 pm, weeding, mulching and tidying up. It’s work but it’s fun, especially because our volunteers are enthusiastic about the park.

We’ll have lunch and take-home goodies for our volunteers this year, thanks to a grant from Air & Waste Management – Niagara Frontier Division. And, once again, Rich Products has donated mulch!

Register here.

BuffaloState Students

Lovin’ Those Volunteers!

Bengal’s Day of Caring

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Vision Niagara welcomed a crew from Buffalo State College for their Bengal’s Day of Caring. This terrific crew came out and learned about Niagara Street’s stormwater planters and green infrastructure from Scott Steinwald of the Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA). BSA was involved in the design of the planters and now has a terrific workforce program that handles the maintenance. Students participated in a cleanup of one Robert Rich Way and Broderick Park and learned about this terminus of the Underground Railroad from Tonya Davis of Vision Niagara. The Underground Railroad exhibit in the concession stand was open, so they toured that as well. Vision Niagara is thankful for the support of Buffalo State College in the care of these tremendous assets.

Broderick the Beautiful (with help)!

We’ve been collaborating with lots of partners to Brush Up Broderick Park. Can you spare a little time on Saturday, April 24? We’ll be there beginning at 10:00 am, weeding and spreading mulch. It’s looking so good and we want to make it shine for the summer season! Covid has shown how essential this park is to our community. Please help us make it better than ever!

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Shoreline Sweep includes Broderick Park as part of their clean up on May 1st. If you missed signing up for that, join us on April 24th!

Remember: masks and safe distancing is still necessary! Contact us at:  info@visionniagara.org if you have questions!

By the way, Friends of Broderick Park has plans for summer events, including Food Trucks! Stay tuned.

Vision Niagara Waterfront Ride

Saturday, May 27 at 9 AM – 12 PM 

During National Bike Month on Saturday the 27th of May, we will have a safety oriented morning ride for about 50 participants of all ages to showcase the changes to the Niagara Corridor in collaboration with GObike Buffalo and East Side Bike Club.

Embarking from the Niagara-Ferry area, we will head downtown and back. A stop will be organized for the new bridge and observation platform on the Seaway Trail next to the Peace Bridge for a photo-op celebration of the newly completed trail section, followed by looping to the marina and back up the newly renovated and bike-friendly section of Niagara Street.

The ride will conclude at Bootleg Bucha for refreshments.

For modest “donation” participants will receive a Vision Niagara t-shirt.

Rain or shine, come enjoy the Vision Niagara ride!

On Niagara Street…

onNiagaraSt

Update: Congratulations to Donna Renier, winner of this #onNiagaraSt contest. See more of her work below and keep using the hashtag to show off your finds in the Corridor!

Vision Niagara is excited to announce the Niagara Street Corridor’s new hashtag: #onNiagaraSt. We invite you to use this tag on everything Niagara Street in hope that it will generate conversation and exposure for what’s happening in the neighborhood. To get going, we’ve partnered with Bootleg Bucha to host a photography contest during the month of January. So head out to Niagara Street or look back through your archives, and use #onNiagaraSt in your caption to enter. Favorites will be shared every Friday with the overall winner receiving 32 oz. of your favorite flavor of kombucha at the end of January. ‘Til then, see ya on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. …and have you received our sparkly, new newsletter? Grab it here.

The winning #onNiagaraSt photo. (click through for more of her work)

Week 1

Photos from Week One (click through for photographer credits)

Week 2

Photos from Week Two (click through for photographer credits)

Week 3

Photos from Week Three (click through for photographer credits)

Week 4

Photos from Week Four (click through for photographer credits)