One of Gates Circle’s newest neighbors on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo is pitching in to beautify the traffic circle. WBFO’s senior reporter Eileen Buckley says Canterbury Woods, along with residents contributed a $5,000 donation to the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy for the circle.
Traffic buzzes through Gates Circle outside Canterbury Wood’s on Delaware Avenue at Lafayette. This funding will be used to help Olmsted plant flowers and maintain the circle this season.
Canterbury president and CEO Rob Wallace noted residents, who live independently and in the assisted living units want to see the space preserved and are committed to the neighborhood.
Gates Circle fountain.
Credit Eileen Buckley / WBFO News
“Many of our residents are looking out at the circle every day. If you look at the building, that’s their view and so obviously they have a vested interest in that, so when they came to me and said we want to contribute, I said ‘of course’. I’m not going to argue with that,” Wallace explained.
“Gates Circle is more than a historic landscape to Olmsted. This is a Buffalo icon,” declared Stephanie Crockatt, Olmsted executive director.
Crockatt said the financial gift is “rare” and appreciated. She said they will be reviewing Gates Circle as part of Olmsted’s master planning process and will be seeking citizens input, including residents living at Canterbury.
“We’re going to be involving the community. We would love to involve your residents in getting your feedback on the things that are important to with regards to Gates as well as the other parks,” Crockatt noted.
Olmsted is already working with the city of Buffalo on a street study to improve the area around Gates Circle. We asked Crockatt damage that often occurs around the circle from vehicle crashes.
“The city has already put wonderful practices in place right now. I know they restriped it. They’ve been working on the light at Lancaster to get people to slow down first. Most of the accidents do happen coming north, and, unfortunately we do have the beautiful yellow barrels, but until we can come up with a solution, those need to be there for safety purposes,” Crockatt replied.
“I live on the fourth floor and this is our view,” said Barbara Kelly, Canterbury resident.
Canterbury residents are thrilled to live outside the iconic circle. Kelly wants to see the Gates Circle enhanced.
“Not only beautiful, but usable so that people can drive here and fewer accidents – I think there needs to be some education on how to use the circle,” Kelly said.
Kelly tells WBFO News Gates Circle needs to be preserved as part of Buffalo’s famous Olmsted parkway.
Gates Circle’s intersection brings together several neighborhoods – including Chapin Parkway, Delaware Park, Elmwood Village and downtown Buffalo.
