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Government of Erie County, New York

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Park Data

Location:
2655 South Park Ave. | Buffalo, NY 14218

Hours:
Open Weekends and most days during the week from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visit the Conservancy Organization website for more information at http://www.buffalogardens.com.

  

History

Frederick Law Olmsted is considered the father of modern landscape architecture. It was his genius that extended the concept of "public green spaces" to a landscape art form. The Botanical Gardens facility is the centerpiece of South Park, located on the South side of the City of Buffalo. In addition to South Park, six other parks in Buffalo - Delaware Park, Front Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, Riverside Park, Columbus Park and Cazenovia Park - were all originally planned and/or designed by Olmsted.

Although Olmsted's master plan for Buffalo featured an urban network of parks interconnected with parkways and rotary circles, it was never fully implemented. The Botanical Gardens Conservatory as part of South Park is one of the most significant buildings included in Olmsted's Buffalo Park System.

The Conservatory was actually designed and built by the greenhouse firm of Lord and Burnham in the late 1890s for $100,000. The Conservatory and site plan as originally completed did deviate, however, from Olmsted's Master Plan. The lack of a formal outdoor approachway and gardens are examples of this. The historical importance of the Conservatory as part of the Olmsted Park Plan has been considered in the County's redevelopment research.

Park Features

The park offers a natural environment for family gatherings. One of our nature trails was constructed by our Park Rangers and is approximately one mile long.

• Plant Life
  Eastern Hemlock, Butternut, Tamarack, Black Willow, Norway Spruce, Black Locust, Northern White Cedar, Witch Hazel, Big Tooth Aspen, Eastern White Pine, Red Pine, Scots Pine, Black Cherry, White Ash, Yellow Ash, Yellow Birch, Beech, Sugar Maple, American Elm, American Basswood, American Hornbeam. In addition, there are ferns, moss/lichens, and Thistle.
• Mammals
  Keep an eye open for white tail deer, rabbits, skunks, Raccoons, and of course squirrels.
• Birds
  If you have a keen sense of hearing and sight, maybe you can catch a glimpse and hear the sounds of the Herons, Jays, owls, and Woodpeckers.

Park Facilities

Click on the graphic above for a reference map.

Your information resource from the government of Erie County, New York