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Paris Plage, Paris France
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris-Plages
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Editors Note: It has been our communities pleasure and legacy to enjoy our Great Lakes waterfront with beaches. However, over the last 100 years and especially in the last few decades, our urban and industrial pollution legacy has caused these valuable resources to vanish. From the original Times Beach which was closed and abandoned due to industrial and urban sewer pollution, to our other legacy beaches including Woodlawn, and the fairly recently constructed Gallagher Beach, it appears that our beaches, and our ability to safely enjoy the sun and water are lost to future generations. This idea of using existing structures on the Outer Harbor, by Jim Carr is a remarkable concept. Lets turn some of of valuable outer harbor buildings into an indoor/outdoor beach, and perhaps a water and wave park. this would be a waterfront destination for citizens of all ages and economic profiles, and for visitors and tourists. Build it! They will come!
A Beach for Buffalo -by Jim Carr of 21st Century Park
Buffalo’s waterfront, largely industrial and polluted, has never been truly accessible to its citizens. Buffalonians have had to look elsewhere for water contact. In earlier times people took the city’s then extensive trolley system to a ferry across the Niagara River to Erie Beach. In later years the steamships Canadianna and Americana carried them across the lake to Crystal Beach. After the war, the rise in auto ownership brought the end of the trolley system and the boats to the beach.
There is something about a beach with warm sand between the toes and a blanket to stretch out on that can never be duplicated by a concrete pool surrounded by a chain link fence. Yet for many Buffalonians, that is their only option. Most beaches are many miles away and not accessible to the 30% of Buffalonians who lack a car. We are told that the poor water quality will preclude the use of our shoreline for a beach for 10 or 20 years. This does not have to be.
The use of the Outer Harbor including Terminals A and B for a signature park appears to be an increasingly viable alternative to the housing and commercial uses proposed by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation. Terminal B, a cavernous warehouse with large doors overlooking the Harbor and Lake Erie could easily be the location for a large indoor pool surrounded by sand. The pool would be next to the shoreline but not impacted by the poor water quality in the harbor, which will persist for many years. Terminal B will offer bathers protection as needed from rain or wind events yet retain the view and open feeling of its lakefront location. It could even become a place where adults could mingle during the evening as a substitute for the bar scene.
Other communities have acknowledged the value of a beach in similarly unique ways. North Adams, in the Northern Berkshires of Western Massachusetts has created a beach day on their main street when they truck in sand to cover the road and allow citizens to enjoy a beach close to home. (http://explorenorthadams.com/THINGS-TO-DO/Events/asdf.aspx). Toronto has created a similar experience with Sugar Beach, a waterfront park in an industrial area close to downtown, complete with tables, chairs, umbrellas, refreshments and Sand. Detroit has done the same in the middle of downtown. The sandy, but waterless, beach is immensely popular. It signifies the rebirth of an exciting downtown. (https://pps-placemaking.exposure.co/campus-martius-park-detroit) Two of these three examples have the sand but not the water contact. We can have both plus a view of Lake Erie. And we can do it lighter, quicker, cheaper on property and in a building already owned by the citizens who need it and would use it.
Our waterfront has the ability to be transformative for the city and region if we look to the future and meet the needs of all our citizens. This includes the 30% that lacks a car and cannot drive the many miles to parks outside the city. A signature park has the ability to create jobs in the fast growing tourism industry and enhance our economic well being.
There is something about a beach with warm sand between the toes and a blanket to stretch out on that can never be duplicated by a concrete pool surrounded by a chain link fence. Yet for many Buffalonians, that is their only option. Most beaches are many miles away and not accessible to the 30% of Buffalonians who lack a car. We are told that the poor water quality will preclude the use of our shoreline for a beach for 10 or 20 years. This does not have to be.
The use of the Outer Harbor including Terminals A and B for a signature park appears to be an increasingly viable alternative to the housing and commercial uses proposed by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation. Terminal B, a cavernous warehouse with large doors overlooking the Harbor and Lake Erie could easily be the location for a large indoor pool surrounded by sand. The pool would be next to the shoreline but not impacted by the poor water quality in the harbor, which will persist for many years. Terminal B will offer bathers protection as needed from rain or wind events yet retain the view and open feeling of its lakefront location. It could even become a place where adults could mingle during the evening as a substitute for the bar scene.
Other communities have acknowledged the value of a beach in similarly unique ways. North Adams, in the Northern Berkshires of Western Massachusetts has created a beach day on their main street when they truck in sand to cover the road and allow citizens to enjoy a beach close to home. (http://explorenorthadams.com/THINGS-TO-DO/Events/asdf.aspx). Toronto has created a similar experience with Sugar Beach, a waterfront park in an industrial area close to downtown, complete with tables, chairs, umbrellas, refreshments and Sand. Detroit has done the same in the middle of downtown. The sandy, but waterless, beach is immensely popular. It signifies the rebirth of an exciting downtown. (https://pps-placemaking.exposure.co/campus-martius-park-detroit) Two of these three examples have the sand but not the water contact. We can have both plus a view of Lake Erie. And we can do it lighter, quicker, cheaper on property and in a building already owned by the citizens who need it and would use it.
Our waterfront has the ability to be transformative for the city and region if we look to the future and meet the needs of all our citizens. This includes the 30% that lacks a car and cannot drive the many miles to parks outside the city. A signature park has the ability to create jobs in the fast growing tourism industry and enhance our economic well being.
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