Grisanti, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy turn on new fountain at Hoyt Lake

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and State Sen. Mark Grisanti, chairman of the environmental conservation committee, are celebrating steps toward improving water quality in Delaware Park. The Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy has announced the installation of a new fountain in Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park. This is a re-creation of the historic fountain installed in 1895, when the lake was known as "The Gala Waters." The new fountain park will also help address community concerns regarding the water conditions in Delaware Park's historic lake.

The fountain is part of a larger effort to improve water quality conditions in Hoyt Lake and the entire Scajaquada Creek watershed. It was made possible by a grant from state Department of Environmental Conservation, initiated by Grisanti. The $100,000 grant attracted an additional $90,000 in matching funds from the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study of the sediment in the lake to help with future lake restoration efforts. The fountain will have a central jet that will shoot 50 feet in the air surrounded by lower water jets that reach 25 feet.

"This is a great day in Western New York, and especially here at Hoyt Lake. I want to thank everyone at the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy for their hard work. We have developed a great partnership in keeping our parks beautiful. This is just the beginning of the many more projects to come," Grisanti said.

The conservancy is partnering with Riverkeeper, which is leading many other stakeholders, such as the City of Buffalo, Erie County, DEC, Fish and Wildlife and the Water and Sewer Authorities in efforts to improve the water quality in Scajaquada Creek.