Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper continues to enhance public access to Western New York waterways with the latest expansion of the Buffalo Blueway.
Construction is underway on enhancements at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Harlem Road Fishing Access and Boat Launch Site, a popular yet degraded public fishing site on the Buffalo River in the Town of West Seneca.
With funding from Empire State Development, construction is estimated to be completed by this fall, and visitors will find easier fishing access and recreational amenities once complete.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper contracted with Wendel for design of the project at Harlem Road, and Ground Breaking Solutions for the construction. The enhancements will include a concrete paddle launch and staircase, a gravel pathway, shoreline vegetation, educational signage, a Blueway marker that is easy to spot from the water, and the second ADA-accessible fishing pier on the Blueway, as well as an ADA-accessible pathway.
Funded with a grant from Empire State Development, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s Buffalo Blueway project enhances public access to our waterways by creating a water-based trail system that also connects to the land-based Greenway system.
“Thanks to our partners at Empire State Development, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of West Seneca, our vision and implementation of the Buffalo Blueway continues to expand. This Harlem Road access project will complement the interconnected water trail system of the other Buffalo Blueway sites that have opened or will open soon,” said Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Executive Director Jill Jedlicka. “For over 35 years, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper worked tirelessly to advocate for and lead the partnership efforts that resulted in a restoring a once-dead Buffalo River into a thriving, vibrant ecosystem that is now being activated with recreational activity from locals and tourists alike. Supporting the growth of a sustainable blue economy continues to be a goal of our ongoing environmental restoration work, and by offering universal access to our waterways through the Blueway system, these kinds of projects will continue to benefit local communities as well as accelerate economic activity for the greater Western New York region.”
“As we break ground on improvements to the newest Buffalo Blueway site at the NYSDEC Harlem Road Fishing Access and Boat Launch, we look forward to increased public access to Western New York’s greatest asset – its waterfront,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “The Buffalo Blueway has some very serious goals. It reinforces the commitment of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers and New York State to the area’s ecosystems. And it connects people to the water, which will ultimately help to inspire and incentivize economic growth.”
Robert Breidenstein, West Seneca Town Councilman said, “The groundbreaking at the Harlem Road Fishing Access site shows what’s possible when vision and collaboration come together. This project — led by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper with support from Empire State Development and the DEC — will expand access to the Buffalo River and ensure people of all abilities can enjoy West Seneca’s natural beauty. I’m proud to celebrate this investment in inclusion and environmental stewardship.”
In January 2017, New York State announced a $10 million award to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper in an effort to expand and enhance waterfront access. Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s Buffalo Blueway project aims to connect a network of public access points located strategically near existing sites and attractions along Lake Erie, the Niagara River and Buffalo River corridors to increase recreation and tourism, and spur economic activity. Since then, numerous projects have been implemented, including enhancements at Buffalo RiverWorks, Wilkeson Pointe, Mutual Riverfront Park, Ohio Street, Red Jacket Park and Higgins Park. The site enhancements include the Buffalo River’s first ADA-accessible paddle launch dock, a massive public art mural, new seating and parking areas, new native planting areas, debris deflectors, new walking paths, new ADA-accessible fishing access, Blueway-specific metal markers and interpretive and safety signage, and an interactive Buffalo Blueway website with maps, information and a trip planner (www.buffaloblueway.com). After Harlem Road is complete, Waterkeeper’s next Buffalo Blueway construction projects will include a public access site at Seneca Bluffs and installing a Blueway site at the newly reimagined Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is a community-based nonprofit organization that protects and restores our waters and surrounding ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. For over 35 years, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has been the guardian of Western New York’s fresh water, protecting clean water, restoring the health of ecosystems, connecting people to the water and inspiring sustainable economic growth and community engagement. For more information, visit www.bnwaterkeeper.org.
