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12 /Noticias Locales La Ultima Hora , Noviembre, 2011

MAYOR BROWNS PLAYGROUND AND PARK PROMISE WILL SOON BECOME A

REALITY FOR MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE RESIDENTSThe City of Buffalos $119,000 investment in this park improvement project is part of the Mayors continued commitment to creating healthy

and safe neighborhood parks

BUFFALO West Side children will soon have a new, fun, and safe place to

play in Buffalo. Today, Mayor Byron W. Brown, community leaders, and West

Side parents and their children gathered to break ground on Phase One of the

Massachusetts Avenue Park Renovation Project. The City invested $119,000in city bond funds to make this improvement project possible.

Healthy parks and playgrounds make neighborhoods stronger, said Mayor

Brown. This is an investment that will expand green space, and improve the

quality of life for the residents that live around this formerly vacant lot.

PUSH Buffalo worked closely with the City to rehab Massachusetts Avenue

Park. The improvements will include: relocating an improved playground into

the park proper, the creation of a new entranceway to include new paving

benches and landscaping. A broken handball court and basketball court will be

demolished, while grading, soil and seed preparations will lay the groundwork

for a future athletic field.

I own a home two blocks from the Park, said PUSH Buffalo Board Member,

Terry Richard. I have four children and they have never played in this park.Two years ago, I worked with PUSH to get my neighbors together to make a plan for improving it. Were thrilled to finally see our plan

become a reality because we know what we need where we live! My children cant wait to play in the park next summer.

The relocation of the playground is

significant. Its currently located in front

of the neighboring Boys & Girls Club,

and situated too close to the street. It

will be relocated into the park proper,

offering children a safe place to play.

I believe every child in my

neighborhood, including my 5-year-old

daughter, should get to grow up with

nice things, like a nice park to play in,said Alba Torres, a parent.So last year

I joined with PUSH to improve the park

behind my house. We met with our City

officials, shared our stories about the

park and gave them our plan for

improving it. Now its happening!

The site once housed a recreational

center, and pool. When the building

was destroyed by fire in 2006, the city

demolished it at a cost of $86,000.