A bicyclist broke through a ribbon Friday, adding a different twist to the dedication ceremony held at the new Lakeside Complex on Buffalo's Outer Harbor. The 20-acre space includes new bike trails for various skill levels, an event lawn and restored habitat.
The bike trails include a skills loop, pump track and "tot track." Combined, nearly one mile of track offers various obstacles and degrees for differing skill levels.
"We have a four-acre grass area which can be used for both passive and active events," said Robert Gioia, chairman of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, about some of the other features. "We have nearly another mile of additional multi-use trails."
There is also a food truck lot where vendors may set up shop. Two were present for the cermony but Gioia suggested more would come in the future.
The $5 million project was funded through Buffalo Billion 2.
"You hear of, over time, as we've been talking about redeveloping the Outer Harbor 'lighter, cheaper, quicker' but the one thing we also wanted it to be was fun," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, an ex-officio non-voting member of the ECHDC's Board of Directors. "We wanted people to come down and enjoy this location."
Access to the Lakeside Complex is free to the public.