Riverside Park (Buffalo, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Riverside Park
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![]() Entrance to Riverside Park
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Location | Roughly bounded by Vulcan, Tonawanda, Crowley, and Niagara St., Buffalo, New York |
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Area | 21.9 acres (8.9 ha) |
Built | 1898 |
Architect | Olmsted Bros. |
MPS | Olmsted Parks and Parkways TR |
NRHP reference No. | 82005026 |
Added to NRHP | March 30, 1982 |
Riverside Park is a special old park found in the Riverside area of Buffalo, New York. It's located in the northwest part of Buffalo. This park was designed in 1898 by the famous park designers, the Olmsted Architectural Firm. They created it after Frederick Law Olmsted, a very famous park designer, had retired.
The park is about 22 acres big and sits on a hill that looks out over the Niagara River. Riverside Park was made for people to play and be active. Over the years, some changes have been made to the park. This was done to meet the changing needs of the community. Even with these changes, the park still has many of its original design features. It was the last part of the big park system planned for Buffalo.
This park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
Fun Things to Do at Riverside Park
Riverside Park has many cool things to do for everyone! You can find a playground for younger kids and nice spots for picnics. It also has two public pools where you can swim and cool off.
Sports and Games
If you like sports, you're in luck! The park has tennis courts and a basketball court. There's also the Bud Bakewell Arena. This building is an ice rink in winter and a lacrosse field in warmer months. It's home to youth hockey teams and other sports groups.
The park also has several baseball fields. These fields are used by the River Rock Baseball League, which is a group for youth baseball and softball. There's also a newly fixed-up football field. This field is home to the Black Rock Riverside Little League Football and Cheerleading organization.
Special Features and Events
You might notice a lighthouse facing Tonawanda Street. This lighthouse was recently lit up again after being dark for many years. A winding road called Hotaling Drive goes through the park, right by the football field.
In the past, Riverside Park used to host the yearly Friendship Festival. This event happened around the Independence Day holiday. It was a joint celebration with Fort Erie, Canada. Today, the park still hosts a seasonal farmer's market. Many other community events also take place here throughout the year.