The Buffalo Urban Development Corp. has won a $5.97 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation to cover the costs of designing and building a "signature" pedestrian bridge to connect the new Centennial Park to the adjacent neighborhoods.
The goal of the bridge, part of the larger project to convert the former LaSalle Park into a more modern and accessible waterfront park, is to ensure "a safe, attractive and more inviting entry to the newly transformed park," according to a memo to BUDC's Downtown Committee.
The redesign of the park is funded by a $50 million grant from the foundation, including $40 million for the remake and $10 million for maintenance. Initially designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the new park will include playgrounds, athletic fields, a great lawn and a lagoon. Construction is slated to begin in 2022 and finish in 2024.
