BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — It's a massive $110 million project that will take years to complete but the progress of transforming the former LaSalle Park in Buffalo into the new Ralph Wilson Park is hard to miss.
"This is going to be a world-class park. It's going to be like something we have never seen before, that we don't have in this region," says Katie Campos, Executive Director of the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy.
7 News Anchor Jeff Russo recently took a tour of some of the work that has been done since construction started in July 2024.
"Quite a bit has changed, this is a very complex construction project," said Campos.
One of the initial focuses has been on the shoreline of the southern end of the park, where crews are working to transform the former cement seawall into a natural slope designed to stand up to Western New York weather.
"You will see the shoreline building up with these armored stones," said Campos, "the purpose of these armored stones is primarily to protect the park against climate change, rising sea levels, and an increased frequency of storms."
To accomplish this, crews are using large pieces of equipment to place the massive stones, not only to shield the park from flooding but to also create new habitats for fish and wildlife.
"We've heard from experts across the country that they anticipate this being a place where many fish are returning, building their habitat, and will be a great place to fish in a handful of years," said Campos.
Another focus of "Phase 1A" of construction is preparing the ground for the park's new signature pedestrian bridge.
"Our hope is this will be one of the grand entrances into the park," said Campos. "First they had to test to ground to make sure it was stable and strong enough, and then they drove 30-foot piles into the ground. So you can see the heads of them now reaching out, but they go 30 feet into the ground until they hit bedrock."
The new bridge will begin on the Fourth Street side of the park at the foot of Pennsylvania Street, and cross I-190 giving the community increased access.
"There will be a 30-foot hill on both sides leading up to the bridge," said Campos. "The bridge will come at an angle, and as you come across the bridge you will look out into the expanse of the lake. It will be a new view of the park that we haven't seen before."
Equally interesting is the route that the bridge will take to get to Buffalo. The bridge is being made in Italy and will travel on a barge across the Atlantic Ocean to the St. Lawrence River, then over to Lake Ontario before heading down the Welland Canal, eventually making it to Ralph Wilson Park.
"The idea is that it will be welded in place, and then moved across the park," said Campos. "During install, which will likely be late Fall, they will actually have to shut down the highway for a 12-hour period when they install the bridge."
It's a big step in eventually creating what Campos believes will be one of the most celebrated public spaces in the country.
"It's going to be a fun place to be," said Campos. "Whatever you want to do in the park, whether you want to read a book in the quiet by the waterfront, whether you want to attend a concert in the amphitheater or whether you want to sled down the hill, you'll be able to do that."
The hope is the new Ralph Wilson Park will open to the public in phases beginning in late 2025, and early 2026.
