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About 150 rally in support of Olmsted Conservancy
By Deidre Williams, News Staff Reporter
Updated: December 13, 2009, 3:27 PM /
Don't fix something that's not broken was the message this afternoon during a rally at Martin Luther King Jr. Park by city and regional park users who like the idea of the Olmsted Parks Conversancy's continued management of the parks.
MLK -- as well as South Park, Cazenovia, Delaware, Front and Riverside parks -- have been managed by the conservancy since Erie County took them over from the city five years ago and hired Olmsted for the job. The pact is set to end when the city retakes control of all of its 180 urban parks Jan. 1.
About 150 attended today's noontime rally, and by many accounts the conservancy has done a good job, not only operating the various green spaces but helping them to flourish. The parks can boast of better maintenance, community support and enthusiastic volunteerism, supporters said. And they were clear that they want Olmsted to continue operating the recreation sites.
"I can't see the city doing any better," said Carima El-Behairy, who lives near Delaware Park. A city resident since 1990, El-Behairy said her children, 9 and 12, regularly use Delaware Park and would play at Martin Luther King Park whenever they came to the Science Museum on Best Street nearby. "The parks have been better. They feel safer. They are cleaner. They look fabulous," she said. "I can't see the city making that level of commitment."
El-Behairy also pointed out that the conservancy brings cost-saving, high-standard volunteerism to the parks and significant private-sector money, including grant sources the city would not be able to get at. "I want my kids' kids to be able to use the park," she said.
There is enough that needs to get fixed in Buffalo, but Olmsted Parks is certainly not one of them, said Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, who rallied the crowd of supporters. Hoyt pointed to improvement projects for Ring Road in Delaware Park and a pool restoration at Riverside Park. Hoyt said $300,000 in taxpayer money has been set aside by the state for the Ring Road project, which includes resurfacing the pathway. A special asphalt will be used and will provide a smoother surface for in-line and roller skaters.
About $125,000 has been earmarked for improvements to Riverside Park.
The grant money for either project has not been received yet, Hoyt said. "Should I give the resources to the city or should I give these resources to Olmsted?," Hoyt asked the crowd.
Thomas Herrera-Mishler, the conservancy's chief executive and president, said anyone is able to support the effort to keep the conservancy on board. Show up at City Hall at 10 a.m. Tuesday for the Common Council's Finance Committee meeting as a show of support, he said. And supporters are asked to donate to the conservancy, as well sign an online petition by visiting
www.buffaloolmstedparks.org.
dwilliams@buffnews.com
PHOTO: Supporters of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy rally today in Martin Luther King Park to urge city leaders to fund the conservancy as the agency that maintains the city's parks.
Derek Gee / Buffalo News