By Josh Daniels
Chris Caya/WBFO News
Frederick Law Olmsted long ago designed the Humboldt Parkway, a boulevard that connected Humboldt Park, now Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and Delaware Park on the east side of Buffalo. The historic, gorgeous area had tall, luscious trees that shaded everywhere beneath them and large houses lining the sides of the streets.
Today, the area is unrecognizable. It feels gross and gray to walk down the sidewalks in front of what used to be houses high in demand. There are few trees, no grass, and a nasty feel to the area. Worst of all, the communities on either side of the old Humboldt Parkway are disconnected from each other. Sadly, this is because there is no Humboldt Park anymore, nor is there a parkway. The area was torn up in the ‘60s to make way for the Kensington Expressway, creating easy access for suburban residents to make their way into the city. The expressway has completely split the neighborhoods apart, diminishing the economic activity, social interactions, and values of homes in the area.
The area has been failed by the city, but this is going to change. As part of her State Capital Plan infrastructure project, Governor Hochul announced that a key focus of the plan in Buffalo is going to be covering the expressway and reconstructing the area. The plan is expected to stimulate the economy in the area, socially connect the two areas that were divided by the expressway, and increase the overall quality of life for residents on the East Side.
The 32.8 billion dollar plan also plans to correct other wrongs that have been made to the communities of the rest of the state, including the inner loop in Rochester, the I-81 in Syracuse, and the Cross Bronx Expressway. If she can successfully reverse the effects of the Kensington parkway on Buffalo, it will be a remarkable success for the new governor.
