 The Buffalo
park system, began in 1868, was the first time that Olmsted and Vaux tried to integrate a
system of parks and parkways. It was also the first attempt in America to layout a
coordinated system of public parks and parkways.
Originally when Olmsted was offered the commission of designing the park, he was shown
three different parcels, and asked to choose the best. He told the city to purchase all
three.
Olmsted incorporated three elements into the park system: a large park, the 350 acre,
Delaware Park, a large meadow park with 120 acres, and a parade ground in the inland area.
Finally Olmsted and Vaux added the system of parkways all which connected the parks. These
parkways excluded all commercial traffic and were aimed at extending the park experience
throughout the city.
Luckily, the majority of Olmsted's designs in Buffalo are still
extensively intact and represent offer one of the best examples of a coordinated system of
parks and parkways. The Olmsted designed portions of the Buffalo park system are listed on
the National Register of Historic Places. |