By Kate Bartlett
This season, Explore Buffalo is offering a variety of free walking tours of some of Buffalo’s most historic and educational areas. Arguably one of the most important elements of Buffalo’s landscape is the parkway system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. In honor of his legacy, Explore Buffalo has partnered with Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to offer free walking tours of these areas during the 2023 tour season.
The Olmsted Park free walking tours include Delaware Park Hoyt Lake (pictured), Front Park and Martin Luther King Jr Park. Tour length and duration vary but average 1 hour and between 1-2 miles walking with light stairs/hills. “These parks are prime examples of Olmsted’s park designs and have been instrumental landscapes in our city’s development,” says Brad Hahn, Executive Director of Explore Buffalo. “We invite readers to come explore Buffalo’s landscape and experience an important part of history and life in the Queen City.”
Olmsted was a leading designer during the 1800’s as he planned many well-known parks across the country, including Central Park in Manhattan, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, many parks in Rochester, Boston and Niagara Falls State Park. “Olmsted believed that parks should offer a break from everyday city life. Life during these times was very industrious, and he envisioned his parks to be a break from these conditions. He created the parks for everyone, no matter their background, culture or working class; his hope was to make this space special for everyone to enjoy together.”
“Buffalo was very cutting edge during these times and it was very forward thinking to bring Olmsted in to design the parks. Buffalo was a boomtown; a very up and coming city. Visionaries brought Olmsted to the city with faith in Buffalo’s future, knowing he would create parks that would be on the level of cities like Boston and New York.”
Delaware Park is the largest park in Buffalo’s system of parks and was built as one of Olmsted’s original Buffalo parks by the early 1870s. The tour highlights the Hoyt Lake section of the park visiting landmarks and statues as guests encircle the lake. Along the way, they’ll learn history of Frederick Law Olmsted in Buffalo, his vision for Buffalo, and the specific design and evolution of Delaware Park. The Front Park tour features another of Olmsted’s original parks offering spectacular views of Lake Erie. “The tour celebrates this site near the water, the former grounds of Fort Porter, and the park’s popularity and many uses in its 150-plus year military and recreational history.”
For full description and tour times visit https://explorebuffalo.org/tours/olmsted-parks-tours/. Reservations are required and can be made online. Explore Buffalo is also featuring the Twilight Tour of Mansions in downtown Buffalo on June 22 at 5PM. This grants visitors the unique opportunity to tour inside a selection of mansions on Delaware Avenue. Tickets are available online https://explorebuffalo.org/events/twilight-tour-of-mansions/ with VIP and Explorer Pass options available.
Explore Buffalo offers a variety of over 200 walking tours in and around Buffalo. All docents are volunteer with a passion to share their love for the area. “The tours are great for locals and tourists alike. Guests gain a deeper appreciation for areas they might pass every day. It’s a great way to get to know the community, connect with others, and learn something new.”