The following is reposted from Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy:

Few words are more synonymous with the name Buffalo than snow – and by association – winter. In a world-renowned snow belt, Buffalo is undoubtedly a city that experiences a distinct winter season. That season makes up a strong part of the identity of Buffalo and all who live here, past and present. But is Buffalo a Winter City? Has it fully embraced this season and all it offers?

A Winter City is an urban area that fully embraces the darkest, coldest months of the year. I am using the term as it’s used in initiatives like the Winter Cities Institute and the Wintermission project. While the challenges of winter are not absent in a Winter City, they do not dominate the narrative of the season.

When we look around the world, we see some incredible examples of Winter Cities. Edmonton , Alberta, Tromso , Norway, and Quebec City, Quebec are all urban centers that incorporate winter into their planning. Their built environment and social programming take cues from winter. This effort results in a season that delivers more benefits than liabilities to living there. Their intentionality and perspective on the cold, dark days of winter result in a different experience for those who live in a Winter City. Residents often report savoring the season. This breaks from the many people elsewhere who simply wait for winter to pass. In these Winter Cities, people have what Dr. Kari Leibowitz calls a “positive winter mindset.”

So what about Buffalo?

In a recent survey (from a report shared below), 68% of Buffalo residents asked to finish the sentence “Winter in Buffalo is…” choose the option “Harsh/Long/Negative.” Only 14% of them finished with “Beautiful/Amazing” and a mere 5% called it “Fun/Adventerous.”

In a true Winter City, these numbers would look different.

Despite this, Buffalo is clearly working towards status as a Winter City. In 2017, 62 cities applied to partner with the non-profit 8 80 Cities in the Wintermission initiative. Just three cities were selected, one of them Buffalo. What proceeded was a two-year project aimed at better understanding how to improve quality of life during winters in Buffalo. The Wintermission Buffalo team engaged over 600 residents to ensure recommendations were community-driven. They tested pilot projects to improve wintertime experiences. Then, they used what they learned to author Buffalo’s Winter City Strategy, shared in 2020. This project, combined with work from others like Visit Buffalo, moves the city much closer to becoming a true Winter City.

*Photo: Rendering of the sledding hill at Ralph Wilson Park*

Among other interesting outcomes, this project revealed a role for parks. Survey respondents had an overwhelming desire to see more winter activities in their local parks. These greenspaces seem the perfect place to engage in activities that improve well-being during the coldest months – exercise, engagement with nature, socializing, and play.

Knowing this, the winter features built into the new Ralph Wilson Park are even more exciting. In the end, they will contribute to city-wide efforts to create a Winter City in the City of Good Neighbors.

Some of the features that will elevate winter at the waterfront include:

Plowed paths for walking and biking
A central sledding hill
Playgrounds open year-round
A place for spotting winter birds and other critters who brave the cold
A space to connect with water for some winter Blue Care
A venue for public programming like WinterFest

As we wait for the park to fully reopen, we can look forward to better winters for generations. The potential legacy this new park promises is huge, contributing many different things to the future of Buffalo. Among these offerings just might be a boost towards becoming a true Winter City and an overall better quality of life for Buffalo in every season.

Lead Photo: A dad pulling his kids in LaSalle Park in the winter of 1980. Preferred Citation: Collection of The Buffalo History Museum. General photograph collection.

Article written by Kathryn Grow Allen. To read more about the project this article is a part of, check out the HEP page for past and future reading on heritage-building at Ralph Wilson Park in Western New York.

Read more at Is Buffalo A Winter City? on Buffalo Rising.

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