Union Ship Canal getting new promenade

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Changes are underway along Buffalo's waterfront with a $2 million project funded by federal transportation money.

A new boardwalk, railings, cobblestone paths, benches and lighting are part of the project along the Union Ship Canal that will be finished this fall. Under the Father Baker Bridge, where factories once were, is a lot of new public access.

Rep. Brian Higgins said, "We're here today at the Union Ship Canal promenade. What you have is a nice park here that compliments the remediation work that occurred here and the businesses that are thriving here."

NYSDOT Regional Director Darrell Kaminski added, "Money wasn't taken from building roads or repairing bridges. It was really taken from that pot of money, which is highly competitive statewide and nationwide."

The project is the latest piece of a waterfront puzzle stretching from the Inner Harbor all the way to the Lackawanna city line.

Kevin Daley is back in WNY, visiting from Minnesota. He grew up in Buffalo and worked at Bethlehem Steel until it closed in 1983. He's seeing the transformation along the waterfront for the first time.

"A lot different than when I was a young kid. They're nice improvements down here. You can ride your bikes, walk around, easy access so you don't have to worry about traffic, so it looks pretty cleaned up," Kevin said.

His wife Michelle added, "Back in my early days in my 20s, there wasn't any of the boardwalks or anything. I used to pull up my car right on that beach down the street and now you can walk and see everything."

"We're creating quality public access along the waters edge, remove the barriers to access and everything that remains will be much more attractive for private investment," Rep. Higgins noted.