Grant funds allow continual upgrades to soccer fields
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, the first nonprofit organization in the nation to manage and operate a historic urban park system, on Tuesday announced it has received a $21,315 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. This grant will allow for much-needed upgrades to the goal mouths of the soccer fields at the Meadow in Delaware Park.
"The outcome of this fall 2018-spring 2019 project will be measured by the successful establishment of grass in front of the goals of the soccer fields. This project will positively impact thousands of youth and parkgoers who use these fields all season long," said Greg Robinson, director of park administration at the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. "In addition to serving as a preventative measure to reduce the possibility of injury due to the conditions of the playing surface, this project also allows the fields to be open and available for unscheduled play when the fields are not in use for league play."
This is the second award for soccer field improvements that has come from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. In September 2017, the foundation awarded $24,000 to the conservancy to make improvements at Rumsey Soccer Field. Due to this grant, resurfacing of the turf is expected to be completed this fall.
The conservancy is responsible for the maintenance of all 850 acres of our community's Olmsted-designed park system - which includes eight soccer fields across six parks, seven parkways and eight circles - and raises over 60 percent of its annual budget from scratch each year.
The conservancy said it appreciates the cooperation of all park users, and requests activities on the soccer fields, including any recreational or dog use, be limited until spring to allow for the best results with the investment of this vital funding.
