First Barge Carrying Iconic Ralph Wilson Park Bridge Completes Historic Journey to Buffalo on Quintessential Day

Buffalo, N.Y. – The first barge carrying the Ralph Wilson Park Bridge completed the final leg of an exciting and historic journey to Buffalo up the Erie Canal and arrived on the shore of Ralph Wilson Park on 716 Day. Designed with community input, the bridge will create a stunning new pedestrian and bicyclist entrance to Ralph Wilson Park over the I-190. Ralph Wilson Park (former LaSalle Park) is a 100+ acre waterfront park in the City of Buffalo that is currently undergoing a transformation to create a world-class public space that is safe, accessible and fun for all to enjoy.

A community-driven visioning process for Ralph Wilson Park that started in 2018 called Imagine LaSalle emphasized that the community’s #1 priority was safe access to the park. With that feedback in mind, the City of Buffalo, the State of New York, and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation added a major infrastructure project to the original scope of the park design: the pedestrian bridge and the redesign of the 4th street park. The cost of both is approximately $20M.

The bridge design was chosen through a community-based design competition led by the University at Buffalo Regional Institute in early 2020. The community chose schlaich bergmann partner (sbp), known for its creative, stylish, sustainable design of long-span bridges and towers throughout the world. The design illustrates an appreciacon for Buffalo’s rich architectural and industrial heritage, coupled with a desire to create an innovacve and opcmized structure. The final structure will be a ced-arch bridge with an enclosed steel arch that protects pedestrians from the noise and traffic below, while also creacng a safe and welcoming crossing into the park.

The bridge, in four pieces, left the Cimolai manufacturing site in Italy in early June on a barge and traveled across the ocean and through the New York harbor. It was then loaded onto two barges at the Port of Coeymans, near Albany, New York, and started the final leg of its journey to Buffalo on the Erie Canal on Friday, July 5, 2024. The barges began arriving at Ralph Wilson Park on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

Following the arrival, construction crews will begin to carefully remove the bridge from the barges and place the four pieces on shore. The bridge will then be welded together at Ralph Wilson Park and is anticipated to be installed over the I-190 in October 2024. Additional construction work will take place on the bridge before Ralph Wilson Park begins opening in phases in 2026.

“The community told us loud and clear that their #1 priority for the park redesign is a safer, more accessible, more beautiful way to get to Ralph Wilson Park and we took that to heart,” said Katie Campos, Executive Director, Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy. “With our committed partners, we are

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collectively delivering a bridge that not only accomplishes that but is also architecturally and culturally significant. There has been a lot of excitement across New York State as the bridge traveled the nearly 200-year-old Erie Canal and we look forward to welcoming our community, and visitors from around the state and country, to Ralph Wilson Park!”

Mayor Byron W. Brown said, “Today’s arrival of the signature bridge is another major milestone in the inclusive and transparent process to transform the former LaSalle Park into a $110 million world-class, waterfront destination. This exciting piece of infrastructure represents what can happen when we work together. I want to thank the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy, and our numerous partners, dignitaries, and community members for their thoughtful and extensive engagement on this once-in-a-lifetime project that will have a profound impact on our neighborhoods and provide a lasting legacy of Ralph Wilson’s commitment to Buffalo.”

David Egner, President & CEO, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation said, “We share in the excitement of the Buffalo and Western New York community as we mark the arrival of this incredible pedestrian bridge that will become the front door to Ralph Wilson Park. Led by the community’s input and desire for better connectivity and safety, this significant piece of infrastructure and architecture has become a reality thanks to our partners at the City of Buffalo and the State of New York.”

Charlie Torres, President, Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade of WNY, Vice President, Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy Board of Directors said, “I was honored to participate in Imagine LaSalle back in 2018 with my son. We were given the opportunity to travel and experience other inspirational parks and then provide input to envision our own world-class waterfront park in Buffalo. We dreamt big, including this new bridge that will provide a safer and more accessible connection from the Lower West Side to Ralph Wilson Park. I truly believe this park will be one of the most beautiful places in Buffalo!”

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “On the eve of the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial, the completed transatlantic journey of the new Ralph Wilson Park Pedestrian Bridge, including its final leg of 338-miles from Waterford to Buffalo, is proof positive that our historic Erie Canal is still capable of doing exactly what it was designed and built for – moving cargo and doing big things for New York State. When it opened in Buffalo on October 26, 1825, few residents could even imagine the Erie Canal would become known as the most significant public works project of its day, and today’s residents are witnessing history again with the successful arrival of this new pedestrian

bridge.”

Senator Sean M. Ryan said, “Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park will be a wonderful tribute to the life and legacy of Ralph Wilson. This new bridge was created with community input, and it will make the Eastern entrance to the park much more attractive and welcoming. It is the perfect symbol for a beautifully redesigned park that will be more accessible to the surrounding community. It is exciting to see this major milestone completed, and I look forward to seeing the completed park open for our community to enjoy for decades to come.”

Buffalo Common Council President Christopher P. Scanlon said, “Today marks a significant moment for Buffalo as we welcome the Ralph Wilson Park Bridge to our city via the historic Erie Canal. This is more than just a structure—it symbolizes our collective commitment to creating a safer, more accessible, and vibrant waterfront and park for all. This transformative project will enhance the beauty and

functionality of Ralph Wilson Park, ensuring it remains a cherished space for generations to come where families can gather, play, and enjoy our city’s natural beauty.”

David A. Rivera, Niagara District Buffalo Common Council Member said, “The City of Buffalo has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this very special bridge, which will provide a safe connection for all, especially Niagara District residents, to the City’s waterfront. Not only is this a bridge, it is a piece of art, and we are looking forward to its arrival, installation, and opening.”

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About the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy
The Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization created to see through the community’s transformative vision for the 100+ acre City of Buffalo waterfront park by creating an inclusive, accessible, safe and fun space for everyone. New sections of the Ralph Wilson Park will begin opening in 2026. Learn more at www.rwparkbuffalo.org

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