City makes deal to save park shoreline

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - An agreement between Buffalo and the Army Corps of Engineers is aimed at protecting a stretch of queen city shoreline.

This project will be jointly funded by the city of Buffalo and Uncle Same. The study itself will be facilitated by the Army Corp of Engineers, and cost a half million dollars.

The section of LaSalle Park covered by this study has experienced extensive erosion due to the continued wave action from Lake Erie. The concrete seawall and timber pile foundation fronting the city's pump station has been deteriorating for over 50 years. This same pump station and filtration plant is what supplies the water to the city of Buffalo.

Mayor Byron Brown said, "We will look at protecting 4,800 acres of the shoreline here, which is critically important, not only because we have the city's only water pumping and filtration plant here, but also to the recreational needs of the city of Buffalo."

This study is very important because it will hopefully put an end to LaSalle Park's quickly deteriorating shoreline. If enough erosion occurred, water service for all city residents would be interrupted, not to mention public access to the park may also be jeopardized.