Playground at Towpath Park, a $600,000 investment, is First in the City of Buffalo
June 1 is National Trails Day; Two-Year Centennial Celebration begins with “Pints in the Park” event at Sprague Brook Park; 2024 Centennial Scavenger Hunt looking for Participants
ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry has announced that it will kick off its centennial year with a “Pints in the Park” celebration at Sprague Brook Park on Saturday, June 1, which is National Trails Day. Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined by Commissioner of Parks Troy P. Schinzel and Erie County Historian Douglas Kohler at Towpath Park in Buffalo today to make the announcement and to cut the ribbon on Erie County’s newest accessible playground, located there.
“There is a lot to celebrate with Erie County Parks in 2024 and this new accessible playground is just one of them. Like the six other similar playgrounds we have put in parks countywide, this one has special design elements that not only make it more fun for the children who use it but that also tie it into the park’s nautical surroundings,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Erie County parks have been a place of peace, nature and learning for a century now, and we are celebrating that great heritage this year as well. I encourage all county residents to get connected with our parks and enjoy all that’s happening in 2024 and beyond.”
The new playground at Towpath Park, an investment of $600,000, is the seventh accessible playground installed in Erie County parks. This is the first with a “water themed” design to showcase the beautiful views of the Niagara River from Tow Path Park. The blue colors in the equipment and the poured in place surfacing including fish designs all throughout make this a unique playground experience.
Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Troy P. Schinzel added, “These playgrounds have been tremendously popular at all our Parks, bringing children of all ages and abilities together to interact and enjoy time outdoors. The playground here at Towpath has many water-themed features in its design due to its proximity to the Niagara River and we are sure this will be a popular place for families this summer.”
The Erie County Parks Commission was founded in May 1924, with the first land acquisitions taking place in 1925. The Parks Department will be celebrating their centennial over the next two years beginning with a 2024 Pints in the Park event at Sprague Brook Park, Saturday June 1 from 1PM – 5PM. Live music, food trucks, outdoor recreation vendors, Park Rangers and more will be a part of this season’s second Pints in the Park celebration.
“Founded 100 years ago this May, the Erie County Parks Commission has overseen the creation of some of Erie County's most iconic greenspaces. Starting with the five heritage parks, Chestnut Ridge, Ellicott, Como, Akron Falls and Emery, WPA projects improved accessibility to the parks during the Great Depression,” said Erie County Historian Douglas Kohler. “Since then, the county parks system has grown almost five-fold and now encompasses a wide variety of vistas, landscapes and history, all for the use and enjoyment of Erie County residents.”
The Parks Department is also launching a fun, free interactive Centennial Scavenger Hunt (similar to the NYS Parks Challenge) that will send individuals and families on fun summer searches at Erie County Parks. Participants must earn at least 35 out of a possible 100 points by completing missions to win prizes. Instructions on how to participate in the Centennial Scavenger Hunt can be found here .
Other Centennial activities can be found at www.erie.gov/parks/centennial .
For more information:
On the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, visit https://www3.erie.gov/parks/
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