Some of Buffalo's most prominent parks and cultural institutions receive funding under Mayor Byron Brown's recommended capital budget for 2020.Brown was at Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Monday to announce the park's casino will receive $350,000 for the renovation of a restaurant space. The mayor says he would like to see a restaurant succeed at that location similar to The Terrace at Delaware Park at the Marcy Casino.
"This facility, the casino, built in 1926, was envisioned as a pleasant restaurant overlooking the park's basin. Now it rents skates to children, serves as a banquet space, and with this capital budget, can serve as a restaurant again," Brown said.
In all, the mayor announced more than $6 million dollars in investments for parks, recreational facilities and cultural institutions. That's nearly a quarter of what he will propose over the course of what has been dubbed “Capital Investment Week,” before Brown presents the budget to the Common Council on Friday, Nov. 1. The council will give final approval.
Along with Martin Luther King Jr. Park, funding is also set aside for Cazenovia Park and the skate plaza at LaSalle Park. The mayor's office says not included in this year’s spending plan but outlined for future investments in 2021 are projects at Broderick Park, the Merriweather and Gonzales Soto Library branches and the King Urban Life Center.
Cultural institutions receiving funding under the spending plan include Shea's, The Buffalo Zoo, Sahlen Field, the Buffalo Museum of Science and The Buffalo History Museum, among others.
"From Shea's to The Buffalo History Museum, we are helping our cultural jewels access the funding and resources they will use as they point the way toward Buffalo's future," Brown said.
The complete list includes:
Riverside Rink $400,000
Martin Luther King Jr. Park Casino $350,000
Sahlens Field $500,000
Machnica Community Center $255,000
Maritime Foundation Art Restoration $208,000
Arts Commission Restoration $232,000
Museum of Science $535,000
Buffalo Naval and Military Park $110,000
Museum of History $319,500
Buffalo Zoo $364,000
Crane Library Branch $535,000
Shea’s Theater $210,000
LaSalle Park Skate Plaza $250,000
Cazenovia Park $300,000
Division of Parks Vehicles $180,000
Tree Removal and Replacement $670,000
Citywide Parks Improvements $600,000
