Page 2 - RR-7-3-25

2 • Thursday, July 3, 2025 MOOSE LAKE http://mooselakecartoons.com
PERSPECTIVES

“A City Within a Park”

collaboration set to lift long-

term support for Buffalo Parks

$25 million lead gift to $1 million to augment and support
incremental maintenance in city-
endowment will fund
owned and operated parks on the
ongoing maintenance, East Side of Buffalo, starting imme-
beautification measures diately. PERSPECTIVES
The Buffalo Common Council – This additional funding is in-
in conjunction with the Ralph C. tended to “jump-start work” in Once again: "It's musical chairs time in City Hall!"
Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Buffalo Ol- parks identified with the most need.
msted Parks Conservancy (BOPC), Furthermore, the Buffalo Olmsted By John Duke According to the Buffalo News,
City of Buffalo’s Division of Parks Conservancy – who’ve served as a very 4 years we play a game NY Assembly members William
and Recreation, and the Community critical partner in the development of: "It's Musical Chairs Time Conrad, D-Tonawanda, Karen Mc-
Foundation for Greater Buffalo– an- of “City Within a Park” – is launch- Ein City Hall." It's a curse of Mahon, D-Williamsville, and Jona-
nounced June 26 a formal resolution ing their own fundraising campaign, democracy no matter the subject or than Rivera, D-Buffalo, all have
to establish “City Within a Park,” an as part of this initiative, to raise how small the crowd. This year levels of possible interest, of suc-
endowment of up to $50 million, funds for maintenance and opera- playing it was most unusual. Our ceeding Ryan in the State Senate,
with a leading gift of $25M from the tions of the city’s historic Olmsted mayor resigned, not in scandal, like according to the lawmakers or their
Wilson Foundation, to support on- parks. To support their campaign, in other cities, but for a larger pay- aides.
going maintenance of Buffalo parks the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation check. After being elected and re- Mayors who don't want to be
for generations. has committed to a structured chal- elected five times, Byron Brown mayors, senators who don't want to
realized it's a lot easier to supervise
"The pandemic reminded us lenge grant with details to be an- be senators and assemblypersons
how essential parks are to commu- nounced in the future. racehorses and slot machines, than who don't want to be in the assem-
nity wellbeing," said David Egner, “The Conservancy is honored it is the politics of Buffalo. There is During last year the Democrats bly. Could it be the grass is always
president & CEO of the Ralph C. and humbled by the support from a reason why for decades Albany prepared for a contest between greener on the other side? And,
Wilson, Jr. Foundation. "Buffalo's the Wilson Foundation as it vali- and New York City's political elites Sean Ryan and Tim Kennedy. A could there be a rising Irish Repub-
parks have received significant cap- dates the important role all of Buffa- refer to us as "Beirut on the Lake" race that Ryan couldn't lose no lican Army in the race? Buffalo:
ital investments through American lo's parks play in making this and the "Wild, Wild Western New matter how much out of the area Beirut on the Lake, the Wild Wild
Rescue Plan funds and our founda- community a great place to live. Our York." money Kennedy could bring in West, and Sinn Féin - the Irish Re-
tion, but ongoing maintenance vision is ambitious – to create an "Beirut on the Lake" because from interests that wanted to buy publican Army.
funding remains a challenge. The exceptional park network for all of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, one control of Western New York. But The Buffalo mayoral race can
City Within a Park collaboration Buffalo. Ensuring sustainability in of the most beautiful cities in the the contest has been settled for best be summed up in childhood
represents a continued strategic the operations and maintenance of world was for most of the 1900s, in now, with Buffalo declaring victory rhyme written and said exactly like
shift toward long-term stewardship the historic parks, and all parks, is civil wars, where the opposing sides for Ryan. this: (according to Wordpress.com)
of these vital community assets." critical. This support is an important could change by the week, and the Garnell Whitfield, who led the Two Irishmen, two Irishmen
The City of Buffalo boasts an start in our effort to fully fund Wild, Wild Western New York, minority candidates, couldn't con- were digging in a ditch
impressive array of accessible parks BOPC now and in perpetuity,” said because of the TV show in which tinue on another political line he One called the other a dirty son
and trails across all neighborhoods, Catie Stephenson, executive direc- the cowboys would always figure a formed because of an objection in of a
but managing these considerable tor, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conser- way to take-on and defeat a larger court by Chris Scanlon that tired Peter Murphy had a dog, a
assets’ ongoing maintenance has vancy. foe. If you could think back, all the him out. Even with the assistance mighty fine dog was he
been a frustrating financial chal- As stated in the resolution, a way back, to last week, you might of attorney James Ostrowski, and Along came a bumble bee and
lenge. condition to determine ongoing remember that we had the democrat after knocking Whitfield off the stung him in his
Over the past few years, city “City Within a Park” funding from ballot, the following day Scanlon Cocktail, ginger ale, ten cents a
leaders and its partners that support the endowment is that the City of primary. There were three minority left the race from the line he glass
park maintenance have held ongo- Buffalo must maintain annual parks candidates that couldn't choose a formed. In the beginning of the If you don’t like it my story you
ing discussions to establish a fund to funding levels at least equal to the single candidate among themselves week on Tuesday, June 24, every- can kiss my . . .
benefit parks across the city for same numbers reported in its 2023- that would immediately become the one wanted to be mayor. By Fri- Ask me no questions, I will tell
years to come. Those talks have 2024 Division of Parks and Recre- favorite in the race, to take on act- day, June 27 everyone, except no lies
now yielded an agreed-upon en- ation budget. The city’s ability and ing mayor Chris Scanlon and New Ryan collapsed. If you get hit by a bucket of
dowment structure to fund “City willingness to maintain these fund- York State Senator Sean Ryan, who sheet, be sure to close your eyes.
eventually won the whole enchila-
Within a Park.” ing levels will be integral for the
Initiated with a lead gift of $25 long-term stability of the parks-fo- da.
million from the Ralph C. Wilson, cused initiative and allow the en-
Jr. Foundation to the Community dowment funding to incrementally
Foundation of Greater Buffalo, the improve park maintenance and op- Quinn Minute – The truth
Frederick Law Olmsted philosophy- erations across the City of Buffalo.
inspired initiative will facilitate col- The endowment announcement by Rix Quinn Some people lie for money. Yep, in the long run it’s better to
laboration and support of operations is the latest news in a very busy o you believe everyone should These stories could be called fiction, tell the truth. I plan to do it myself…
and maintenance for parks across season of milestones and momen- Dtell the truth? Well, I believe fabrication, or – in some cases – pretty soon.
the City of Buffalo. tum for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. everyone else should… but occa- resumes. Would you like to know more
“Buffalo’s parks are more than Foundation. Over the past 10 years, sionally I need to lie. Truth-telling, however, builds about the generation called Baby
just green spaces – they’re gather- the organization has had a seismic I lie mostly for domestic tran- trust. People buy from trustworthy Boomers? You can order Rix’s book
ing places, safe havens, and essen- impact within various focus areas quility. For instance, here are three people, who can use the money to on that generation today. Just go to
tial parts of our neighborhoods. The across Western New York, includ- questions from a spouse that could start trust funds. I trust my funds to this link: https://www.amazon.
‘City Within a Park’ endowment ing in the realm of parks and recre- require an untruthful response: make money, so eventually I can com/BABY-BOOMERS-SPEAK-
represents a transformative step for- ation. From inventive play spaces 1. “Do you think this haircut just lie around. learned-whatever/dp/
ward in ensuring that these trea- and more connected regional trails looks too young for me?”
sured spaces are maintained and across Western New York, the 2. “Where would our son find a
uplifted for generations to come,” Foundation’s legacy continues to be magazine like this?”
said City of Buffalo Mayor Christo- galvanized by its transformation of 3. “I’m sure I had a $20 bill at
pher P. Scanlon. the region’s outdoor spaces and sus- the top of my purse. Have you seen
“Thanks to the leadership and tainability efforts. “City Within a it?
vision of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Park” plans to play a significant part I didn’t start out as a liar. But
Foundation and the Community in assuring this work is maintained. faced with a situation where I can
Foundation for Greater Buffalo, we “Since 2018, the Foundation get yelled at, I find fibs an attractive
are embracing a long-term, sustain- has intentionally built in funding to alternative.
able approach to parks funding – support parks and trails for genera- Lies are as old as humankind.
one that prioritizes equity, particu- tions to come,” says JJ Tighe, senior But we don’t know how old human-
larly for neighborhoods that have director of Parks & Trails Initiative kind is, because so many of them
long been under-resourced. My ad- for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Founda- lied about their ages.
ministration is fully committed to tion. “The parks and trails invest- Stone Age storytellers also in-
doing our part by maintaining ments are important for connecting vented tales that taught important Published by Buffalo Standard Printing Corp.
strong public funding, and I look people, for connecting places, for lessons. Today we call them “fa- Roger Puchalski - Editor
forward to the impact this initiative recreation opportunities and for eco- bles.” Back then they were called Roxie Harbison - Sales & Marketing
will have on our city's quality of life nomic development to thrive. How- “lying around the campfire.” Printed in Buffalo by Buffalo Newspress
for years to come.” ever, the quality of these spaces and E-MAIL riverrock@email.com
Additional funding if they can be clean, well-main- (716) 835-9455 • FAX (716) 835-9457
toward endowment tained and safe for future genera- Visit us online at The views of columnists and letter writers do not necessarily
Along with the $25 million gift tions will be the enduring legacy of reflect the views of the RiverRock Times. Letters to the editor are
these investments.” riverrocktimes.com
to start the endowment, the Ralph C. welcome at riverrock@ email.com or by mail: RiverRock Times,
Wilson, Jr. Foundation is providing c/o 979 Grant St., Buffalo, NY 14207. They should be concise.