By Malniquia Evans and Janiel Thomas
BengalNews Reporters
BengalNews Reporters
Three years ago, a neglected park on the West Side consisted of a run-down playground and a vacant lot with trees and potholes.
That was until PUSH Buffalo members and
community members decided to renovate the park, near the Butler Mitchell Boys
and Girls Club.
The park now has black top pathways that lead to
a full colorful playground with slides and swings, a park pavilion, and a main
entrance archway.
With the help of the City of Buffalo, the PUSH
Buffalo organization and West Side community members were able to focus their efforts
on the redevelopment of the city-owned Massachusetts Avenue Park. In an attempt
to make the park more aesthetically pleasing and welcoming, members of the
community drafted the Healthy Neighborhood Park Concept Plan. The Healthy
Neighborhood Park Concept Plan includes construction on the park, which is being
done in three phases.
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| Terry Richard at park entrance |
“Phase II had to be put on hold because of the
winter and the weather outside,” said Terry Richard, PUSH Buffalo board member.
“But it should be completed by the summer, so they are going to start back up again
in the spring, which is coming soon.”
When construction resumes, a multipurpose
playing field, handball courts, pathways, and a second entrance to the park on Lawrence
Street will be built.
“We’re putting in a multipurpose field so the
children can play soccer, football, and volleyball and that’s going to be
fenced around,” said Richard.
Since the completion of Phase I and the
beginning of Phase II construction, the park has become a site for community
events, as well as organization events. According to Lonnie Barlow, Communications
coordinator at PUSH Buffalo, the organization tries to house as many events in
the park as possible to draw attention the park.
“We’ve had little league soccer events at the
park amongst other things,” Barlow said. “We try to have these events to let
people know that the park is safe and active.”
When Phase II is complete in June, members of
the community will be able to celebrate yet another milestone in the
redevelopment efforts. Richard says she hopes that the work that has been done
by the PUSH Buffalo organization and the City of Buffalo will not go unnoticed,
and that the community will continue to work together to maintain the park.
“I would really like to see more appreciation
from the community and I think we’re getting there now since they have a hand
in what’s going on, a hand in helping to make these developments,” Richard
said.
Terry Richard, on the PUSH Buffalo's park plans:
Terry Richard, on the PUSH Buffalo's park plans:
Upon the completion of Phase II, Phase III will
begin with the hopes of bringing the vision of the organization and that of the
community, full circle. However, funding for Phase III has not yet been
disclosed and construction plans have not yet been put in place.
According to Andrew Rabb, Deputy Commissioner of
Parks & Recreation, it is undetermined at this time what the Phase III
process will involve. Nonetheless, they continue to meet with the community to
meet their needs.
Rabb said that his expectations for the future
of the park are a safer, greener and sustainable park that the neighborhood can
be proud of.
Imagine a neighborhood playground where children are supposed to play safe being on the sidewalk near the curb. That’s exactly how the Massachusetts Avenue Park playground was before members from PUSH Buffalo and the neighborhood decided it was time for a change. Since the playground was on the curb, it was close to traffic, which would prove to be a recipe for disaster for the kids in the neighborhood. If children were to play on the slides, they would be sliding into the street. Not only was the park abandoned, but it was also the perfect place for loitering behind the parks vacant lot. - Malniquia Evans and Janiel Thomas
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