Lighthouse restored, open to public

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - One of Buffalo's oldest lighthouses is beaming a little brighter, now that the project restoring the waterfront landmark is complete.

Mike Vogle of the Buffalo Lighthouse Association said, "It's an icon. It's on the city symbol. If you look at the seal of the city of Buffalo, a lighthouse is prominently featured on it. Lighthouse preservation, nationally, is a movement that has gained a lot of steam in recent years."

This project, just another in the ongoing restoration of the Buffalo waterfront, has been completed in advance of the National Preservation Conference that will be held October 19th through the 22nd. The public will now have access to the waterfront near the property of the U.S. Coast Guard and the historic lighthouse, which has been closed since 9/11.

The lighthouse is the oldest standing structure in Buffalo that is still in its original location. The public is responding to the changes with increased attendance to the harbors.

Rep. Brian Higgins said, "It was a breakout summer. Last year, about 125,000 people visited canalside. This year was about 760,000, and we expect an even more exciting and event-filled calendar next year and making the waterfront a 12-month destination."

The Erie County Parks Department will maintain the grounds and will look to add fencing, benches, picnic tables, and swings. It may be the most prominent, but the lighthouse is only one of many projects going on along the outer harbor.

"If you take a ride along the recently completed parkway, you can see work at Times Beach, a pavilion at Gallagher Beach and fishing and park space at the Union Ship Canal, scheduled for completion this month," said Rep. Higgins.

The station will still be used by the Coast Guard, but they did not require the entire 30 acres of land. In total, seven acres of the parcel will now be open to the public and made into a park.