Break

Strolling the Bird Island Pier at dusk

The break wall winds its way along the Buffalo shoreline, separating the Black Rock Channel from the Niagara River.

River's Edge

Watching the Niagara River as it flows by Blackrock.

West Ferry Street Lift Bridge

West Ferry St. Lift Bridge

Two bridges connect Liberty Island to the Niagara St. corridor. Both have been beneficiaries of a multimillion dollar makeover that includes Broderick Park at the southern end of the island. The lift bridge, dating back to 1913, spans 225 feet across the Black Rock Canal, which is actually part of the Niagara River, distinguished by the break wall that delineates the waterways. The West Ferry Lift Bridge, pictured above, has been restored to its former glory, ready to give us another hundred years of service and access to our beautiful river.

Bird Island Pier

Bird Island Pier

The walkway, known as the Bird Island Pier, is one of the most unique vantage points for observing the flowing waters of the Niagara, Canada and the western edge of the city.  Broderick Park, at the end of Liberty Island is where the path starts, stretching over the break wall that runs between the river and Black Rock Channel. The 1.2 mile cement walkway takes you parallel to the shore, under and past the Peace Bridge. Proceed with caution on days like these. The mighty Niagara didn't look very forgiving today.

November 1

Fontana Boathouse

Almost one hundred years after he sketched the design, Frank Lloyd Wright's boathouse was brought to fruition. In 2007 The Fontana Boathouse was completed near the Peace Bridge at the mouth of the Niagara River. On this, the first night of November, young people in shorts scrub their sculling shells in the warm evening air as walkers stroll the break wall under the bridge. The vision is fulfilled.

http://wrightsboathouse.org/

LaSalle Park

LaSalle Park

Lasalle Park, originally named Centennial Park, started its life as a city dumping ground. The land purchased from the state in 1911 for park use somehow ended up as a dump for 2O years before becoming Buffalo's largest waterfront park. This well used strip of land is home to baseball fields, an ampitheater, new skateboard park, public pool and a dog park. Found where Lake Erie flows into the mouth of the Niagara, the park is situated on the west side of the city between the water and the I-190. We observed some road work underway at one end of the park and hope there's a soup to nuts makeover in store, because this amazing location deserves some tender loving care from the city.  At the Porter Avenue end of the park lies the Colonel Francis G. Ward Pumping Station. This huge and historic complex began as a steam engine powered pumphouse and is still operational today supplying the city with water.

http://www.buffaloplace.com/PopupLeaf/Lasalle/132