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Pridgen seeks change on Greenway Commission

WBFO File Photo

Buffalo Common Council President Darius Pridgen said as a new appointee to the Niagara River Greenway Commission he will push for use of education to tell all residents of the value and opportunities of the local waterfront.Pridgen wants highly-visible signs to tell passers-by of recreational waterfront opportunities that often go unnoticed.

One example Pridgen offers is his personal discovery of Broderick Park on the Niagara River.

"I didn't know that it existed or its significance until I was in my forties."

Broderick Park served as the last stop on the Underground Railroad for many escaped slaves before finding freedom in Canada.

According to Pridgen, many people on the East Side don't know of opportunities in their own communities.

"You go to some other cities and you see huge signs that really direct people to these natural assets. We don't have the same thing."

Pridgen said he believes there are economic development opportunities and those opportunities need to be made much more visible to all local businesses.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.