This small step will hopefully lead to much larger steps in the near future. What you see here is the new plaque that will be unveiled at a July 28th ceremony.
Organizers are also in the process of procuring $7500 in funds (see update below) that will go towards site surveys, construction documents, etc. The services will be the preliminary steps toward installation of a jogging path and other amenities that will grace the park. "Well, we figured that as long as people were jogging there every day, we might as well make it a feature," said Marilyn Rodgers of the West Village Renaissance Group (WVRG). "People that stay at the local hotels somehow find Johnson Park and use it as a running track. The addition of the plaque is step one. We are going to look to foundations in order to secure grants to make this all a reality. The total sum of the project will be around $400,000. That will include the fountain and conservatory.”
Breaking News: “We just got the initial $7500 for the studies,” Marilyn called-in minutes ago. “Now we're going to look at Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the actual project."
If all goes according to plan, the project will include wheelchair and stroller access, replacing the streetlights near the jogging path, new curbs, reseeding, and a glass conservatory and fountain that will be operational year 'round. WVRG hopes to orchestrate efforts with Hutch Tech down the road in order to maintain many of these features. These goals will only be possible with the help of community foundations (and help from the city). Buffalo's ‘oldest and most continually lived in neighborhood’ deserves to be treated with much respect considering it is so close to so many of the blossoming developments at the city's core.
If there is a person that would like to get involved, or a foundation that would like to help, please contact the WVRG.
*Thanks to David Wahl who wrote the copy for the featured plaque.