Delaware Park

Come see Michelangelo's "David". Or drive by it on the Scajaquada. Its located in Delaware Park.

Delaware Park is improving (as if it could, other than getting rid of the highway in the middle). That's why Im updating my review.

This year the park got a makeover. Parts of it anyway. Marcy Casino has reopened with a refurbished interior, a new deck and a brand-new, much more reliable elevator. The Marcy Casino dates from 1901. No wonder she needed a makeover.

The Rose Garden has some work being done now (Oct 2014), which will be done soon. They are repairing some of the columns and cleaning up the rose garden tile areas. So when you come to see Shakespear in the Park next you will experience a "perked up" rose garden.

All those weddings that happen here, better disabled access with the redone tiles and better elevator.

While it looks like parking is going away, they are actually just moving it a little. That will increase the landscaping in the area, and make the parking easier as well.

Delaware Park is still a great place for a run, on either side, although finding the footbridge can be a challenge the first time (ask Colum McCann who recently tried).
The Meadow Side has a road going around it, where cars are allowed only part of the way. Makes for easy traffic regardless of dog walker, race walker, runner, cyclist, rollerblader etc. The Hoyt Lake side path is a little thinner and requires more navigation at times, especially with the cyclists. And the geese.

If you come early in the morning, or after snowfalls, the Meadow is a great place to walk. Just avoid the actual greens if possible. You will be sharing it with some rabbits and perhaps squirrels, and the occasional early morning golfer. If you are at Hoyt Lake early you will be sharing it with a heron or an egret, they seem to take turns, but they both are local birds. You will usually find one standing very still near the edge of the lake looking for breakfast.

Walking towards the Rosa Garden from the lake you will see a whole other area with paths for walking. Heading towards where Rumsey Road and Forest meet, you will find a large field with soccer goals and some bleachers. So there really is something for everyone in different parts of the park. Golf. Soccer. Tennis. Baseball. A coffee stand (Meadow side). A lake to run around or take a paddleboat on. Benches to sit on. A rose Garden. A place to have your wedding or party. And many weekends in the Spring and Summer, a place where running races start or finish.

** And yes, I know the David is a replica, but its a good one :)

A little history -

Delaware Park is the flagship park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. It was "started" in 1868 and finished in 1876. Its 376 acres, and was renamed Delaware Park. Those acres are divides in 2, as anyone who has visited the park knows. The Meadow side - which is now the golf course is the bigger of the two. The other is called "The Water Park" aptly named with Hoyt lake, which is actually a widening of Scajaquada Creek (hence the name of the Scajaquada Highway).

While the Albright is one gallery on the park, there is also a museum, formerly called the Buffalo Historical Society, now called the Buffalo History Museum. On the other side you will find the Buffalo Zoo.

Delaware Park was entered into the National Registry of Historic Places in 1982.

Delaware Park is an institution in Buffalo NY. While its a large park, its more or less divided into 2 by the 198.

The part near the zoo has a golf course, which appears to be nice and people are often playing. There are water fountains here and there. There are areas you can run your dog. You can also easily visit the zoo while at the park. Just on the other side of Parkside Ave you have Sweetness Cafe (crepes), Fairycakes cupcakes, a pizza place and a 7-eleven.

There are races in the park all the time, weekends and weeknights after works. Its a very busy place as a result. The loop is 1.8 miles around.

There are some basketball courts on the Parkside Ave side of the park. There are many baseball diamonds with organized games.

The road around the golf course allows cars on part but not all, which is great for runners and cyclists.

You can then cross Delaware Ave and go into another part of the park with a nice path for running and a pedestrian overpass to get to the other side of the park. This side of the park has a pond and is the "back yard" of the Albright Knox museum. There are picnic areas here, a casino area for events (think weddings). There are concerts here, Shakespeare in the Park, and many other events throughout the spring, summer and fall.

Its a great place for a nice afternoon walk.