Frederick Law Olmsted is America's first and greatest landscape architect. His system of parks and parkways in Buffalo is historic because it is the first of its kind in the nation and represents one of his largest bodies of work. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Buffalo's Olmsted system consists of six parks- Delaware, Martin Luther King Jr., Front, South, Cazenovia, and Riverside- and their connecting parkways and circles. The system comprises 75% of the city's parkland.The Conservancy works to revitalize the Olmsted Park System that weaves through virtually every urban neighborhood, uniting people from different areas, and maintaining the cultural fabric that holds the community together.

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (the Conservancy) is a not-for-profit, membership-based, community organization. The Conservancy's mission is to broaden awareness of, appreciation for, and investment in Buffalo's Olmsted Park System (the System) in order to enhance, restore and maintain this cultural treasure for the benefit of current and future generations.

Description:
There are many wonderful volunteer opportunities available through the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. Now more than ever we can use your help. The Olmsted system in Buffalo accounts for 75% of the city's parkland. Volunteers are needed to play a key role in the maintenance of the historic parks, parkways and circles. From planting trees and flowers to removing graffiti to providing office help, the opportunities are plenty. No experience is necessary, we will train you and we know you will have fun! For more information on the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, please visit our website at www.buffaloolmstedparks.org.

History:
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is a not-for-profit, membership-based, community organization that grew out of the Friends of Olmsted Parks, which was founded in 1978. In 1995, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Buffalo creating a public/private partnership for the betterment of the Olmsted Park and Parkway System. Like many public parks throughout the nation, Buffalo's Olmsted system of parks and parkways has slowly deteriorated due to shifts in government funding.
In January 1999, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy was only one of eight parks organizations nation-wide to be awarded a Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund - Urban Park Initiative grant. The Conservancy received $700,000 that was matched one-to-one over four years. Currently, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is dilligently following a 20-Year Management and Restoration Plan in partnership with the community on the Olmsted Advisory Council, the City of Buffalo, and Erie County to restore the Olmsted Park and Parkway System.

World-renown as the "Father of Landscape Architecture," Olmsted also designed the Parkside neighborhood, the grounds of the H.H. Richardson Complex, Niagara Square, and the Niagara Falls State Park, as well as New York's Central Park, the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and the White House, Yosemite National Park and famous parks and green spaces throughout North America. To learn more about the Conservancy, call 838-1249 or visit www.joinolmsted.org.

Contact person: BOPC Info, Administrative Assistant, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: 716-835-1300

Address:

Parkside Lodge, 84 Parkside Avenue Buffalo, NY 14214 (See a map)

Directions:

The historic 1914 Parkside Lodge is located on Parkside Avenue. It is the large yellow building adjacent to the lawn bowling courts, directly across from Florence Avenue on Parkside Avenue (on the same side as the Buffalo Zoo, closer. . . (more)