Delaware Park — Attraction in Buffalo

Delaware Park is like the crown jewel of the Buffalo Parks system. It's tough to give it just one review because it's really more like several parks that are all right next to each other, and of those, it's functionally divided in half by the 198! And to make it seem even bigger, on the other side of the 198 and Delaware Avenue is Forest Lawn Cemetery, which gives even more green space to the views.

The northeastern section is larger, and is where the Buffalo Zoo is, as well as the lodge, the croquet court, and the golf course is. The biggest open area is the golf course, and it's not open to non-golf players except for some special occasions. Personally, I think it's a huge waste, but the fees help fund the park, so I guess there's a balance. There's a running/walking/roller skating/biking loop that goes around the whole area (now closed to traffic), that goes by the Buffalo enclosure at the Zoo, a fitness station, basketball courts, picnic areas, soccer fields (which sometimes double as Quidditch pitches), and some tennis courts tucked over on the far side.

The southwestern section of the park encloses Hoyt Lake, the Rose Garden, the sledding hill/Shakespeare in the Park area, a formal playground area, another soccer field, and more wooded areas with hills and paths. There tend to be more dogs in this area, so watch out for people who don't clean up after them! This part of the park is more restful and relaxing than the other, and is more set up for a quiet stroll than running laps. There's a restaurant in the (non-gambling) casino, and one can rent boats (some pink flamingo pedal boats too) to go out on Hoyt Lake.

To get from one part of the park to the other, there's a little strip park between Nottingham Court and the 198 that has some tennis courts, and then a pedestrian bridge over the 198 that brings one out by a bronze cast of David by Michelangelo (one of only three cast from the original marble!). Adjacent to this bridge is the Japanese Garden of the Historical Museum, making the park seem...

This is an OLMSTEAD park. Why is there a highway or three running through it? You put a golf course in the middle? It's a public park! All advice and complaints are ignored by the Olmstead Parks Conservancy management, possibly the most ineffective non profit I've ever encountered. Their executive officer doesn't even have working experience outside of said conservancy! The folks doing the work on the ground from landscaping and caretaking to volunteer coordinating and ecological study are all AWESOME HUMANS with true dedication to their jobs and to their parks. I wish the folks inside that building had half of what their subordinates possess. During the 2024 eclipse they email blasted us to tell us to keep off their golf course. But it's a public park?! I'm so glad I walked right across that course and sat down in the middle, as we were apparently the only people in WNY who saw more than a "brief glimpse" of the cosmic event. The park didn't set up restroom facilities for the influx of guests it KNEW would be in attendance (as evidenced by their email blast insisting we stay off their golf course). Basically, this once beautiful and one of a kind city park is nothing more than a subsidized golf course for the golfers among us who can't afford a real golf facility. I don't even hate golf, I just think it's sad they're allowed and even encouraged to do such an ugly thing at such a...

It's always fun comming here with the kids. They have a blast. There is the bird cage that is absolutely filled with birds that you buy food for and the birds can fly around as they please, you can pick any bird to feed and they aren't shy as they'll perch on you no problems to eat or whatever (bring a wet wipe, lol). Of course the typical animals bears, tigers, lions, a plethora of reptiles, beavers, sea lions, giraffes and so many more, but they did get rid of the elephants and I am not sure of they will be back as they gotnrid of them due to there being not enough room for them to keepnthem happy. But! They have gorillas that are always fun to visit as well as the different monkey exhibits. And they added so many more things to see and visit. There is a rainforest enclosure you can walk through with lots of different animals in it as well as crocodiles you can see walking over the bridge in there. Just be aware it is very warm and humid inside (rainforest environment). To sum it up, it is definitely worth the visit there is always so much...