Work beginning at Buffalo outer harbor

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - After 57 years, Buffalo's outer harbor is finally being developed.

Thursday was a moment that captured the promise of a new and productive start for the outer harbor. The Spirit of Buffalo happened to be sailing right by the lakeshore property that once stored the ice boom and is now being converted from wasteland to park land, giving the public access to one of the region's greatest assets.

Rep. Brian Higgins said, "People are believing again that Buffalo is going through a waterfront renaissance."

By next summer, the stretch along the lake, near the Times Beach Nature Preserve, will welcome the public to park land and playgrounds, pedestrian paths, public docking and restroom facilities.

Mayor Byron Brown said, "This is a significant first step in creating that unique kind of public access on the outer harbor of the City of Buffalo."

It's a first step that brought Lt. Governor Robert Duffy to the site with a pledge that Governor Andrew Cuomo is doing all he can to assist in Buffalo's waterfront development and attempts to revitalize the region.

"Make no mistake: Cuomo stands with his support of Buffalo and western New York. This is something that he is putting his money where his words are," Duffy said.

There is even hope now of creating bathing areas on the outer harbor. Planners say studies are underway to see if it's feasible to create a sandy beach. Water safety studies have already been conducted by Erie County, with encouraging results.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation President Thomas Dee said, "You can swim 95 percent of the time. That's pretty incredible."

And it's all happening on valuable land that has been ignored for more than five decades.