Upgrades were made to Erie County’s Thomas F. Higgins Riverfront Park throughout summer and fall to enhance access to the site while protecting it from winter ice in the river.
Adjacent to the Bailey Avenue bridge, at the confluence of the Buffalo River and Cazenovia Creek, Higgins Park is the latest addition to the Buffalo Blueway. The enhancements improve visibility throughout the land and add a new fishing pier overlooking the Buffalo River. The site also features new benches and a paddle sport egress spot, with stone steps to and from the water. This is primarily to act as a resting spot for people traveling along the waterways.
The new rock border on the shoreline is meant to protect the park from yearly damages caused by ice flows along the Buffalo River. The force of the river causes ice to crash ashore and degrade the shoreline. Adding a rock border will safeguard the features of the park and mitigate future repairs. The picture below – from January 2023 – shows how ice can build up on the shore of the park.
We’ll have more updates in the future about this site, including when construction is finally complete.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper contracted with Anchor QEA to design the project, and Scott Lawn Yard for the construction. The project was funded with a grant from Empire State Development with the goal of improving public access to our waterways by creating a water-based trail system that also connects to the land-based Greenway system.
See how the park looked prior to construction and it’s current features in the image comparisons below.
Higgins Park Construction Starts for Newest Blueway Site
