Senator Kennedy, Mayor Brown Team Up to Improve South Park Avenue

South Park Avenue Revitalization Project continues with efforts to clean up, repair environmental amenities along commercial strip.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The South Park Avenue Revitalization Project continues, as Senator Tim Kennedy and Mayor Byron Brown team up with community leaders to make further improvements to this important Buffalo commercial strip. This is the latest chapter in a community development project that has been ongoing for several years, since Kennedy began spearheading this movement as a county legislator.  

At a press conference Wednesday on South Park Avenue, Mayor Brown and Senator Kennedy announced efforts underway to spruce up and repair the trees, tree beds and other environmental amenities along the street. With this hot summer weather bearing down on trees and plants throughout the region, the city is stepping up its efforts to maintain and improve the trees on South Park Avenue.

Senator Kennedy has closely monitored the progress on South Park Avenue since the revitalization project first started. This spring, he contacted Mayor Brown to develop new ways to maintain and improve South Park Avenue. After their conversations, Mayor Brown dispatched a team of summer youth workers to work with Senator Kennedy’s office as a South Park Avenue Revitalization Task Force.

To help jumpstart the task force’s efforts, Mayor Brown also sent out a team of workers from the city Department of Public Works, Parks and Streets today to remove weeds from the tree beds, re-mulch and clean up the trees.

“South Park Avenue has undergone a transformation in recent years, and we’re not letting up,” said Senator Kennedy. “Behind every strong, vibrant neighborhood, you’ll always find an engaged and cooperative community effort. That’s exactly what we’ve seen here on South Park Avenue. Mayor Brown understands the importance of strong neighborhoods, and I thank him for helping us get the job done. The South Park Avenue Revitalization Project is an example of good government at work for the community – improving quality of life, creating jobs and encouraging private sector investment.”

“Keeping our neighborhoods spruced up and vibrant plays a vital role when it comes to overall quality of life. From the big things to the little things, everything adds up,” said Mayor Brown. “Senator Kennedy and I continue to work together on this project so that the residents can have clean and well-maintained areas to live, work and play.”

“Beautification projects like Re-Tree WNY are vital to the growth of South Park Avenue, as well as South Buffalo's other commercial strips,” said Councilman Chris Scanlon. “They not only improve the quality of life for residents, but also attract new businesses and in turn welcome new customers to our area. I'm committed to continuing projects along these lines all across the South District.”

“We’ve had good success with the hundreds of trees that we originally planted with an army of volunteers here in October, 2010,” said Paul D. Maurer, Chairman of Re-Tree WNY, “but some of these were lost due to winter storms, drought, and vandalism. We will find a way to replace these 60 trees this fall, hoping that the neighbors, businesses, and visitors of South Park Avenue will respect our hard work and assure the survival of these trees for all to enjoy. This includes running a hose out to soak the trees at times when this is needed and keeping a watch for vandals and other threats to our treescape.”

Mayor Brown and Senator Kennedy also asked the community for its support in maintaining the trees and keeping the area safe, clean and attractive. They asked residents and businesses to take some time to water young trees – whether on South Park Avenue or anywhere else in the city – to ensure the plant life continues to thrive and prosper.

The South Park Avenue Revitalization Project began a few years ago when Senator Kennedy served in the County Legislature. Kennedy spearheaded an effort to bring together city, state and federal officials, along with community leaders to re-develop South Park Avenue in Buffalo. Senator Kennedy, Congressman Brian Higgins and Mayor Brown were instrumental in driving this project forward to completion. Re-Tree WNY also contributed to the revitalization efforts, planting about 400 trees along South Park Avenue.   

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Senator Timothy M. Kennedy represents the New York State Senate’s 58th District, which is comprised of the towns of Cheektowaga, Eden, Hamburg and West Seneca, the city of Lackawanna and parts of the city of Buffalo. More information is available at http://kennedy.nysenate.gov.