Cold and Wind-Swept Greetings!
In 2024, you saw construction crews at Ralph Wilson Park humming away nearly every day of winter. 2025 is much colder, and there is a temporary “freeze” on much of the landscaping work until the weather improves. Work still continues! Crews are installing the drainage system under the park as well as athletic field lights!
In our 100 acre park, much of the work is moving soil on a massive scale. Where you once could see clear across LaSalle Park, at Ralph Wilson Park you will enjoy rolling hills. On average, we are elevating the park by about 3 ft, and you’ll see topographical changes up to 30ft at the sled hill. That is a lot of soil to move! Construction crews can’t place or move soil on frozen or wet ground because it will erode or settle, creating instability.
Lights up!
On two very cold days, electricians from Ferguson Electric erected three 60’ and six 70’ sports lighting poles. Each of the poles has a fully integrated array of LED lighting fixtures. These lights will extend the playing season in the fall as the sun begins to set earlier.
One way to avoid the bitter winds and frozen conditions on site is to go deep underground. Which is just what contractors from the Kandey Company have been doing this past month to install the storm network drainage system throughout our park — LaSalle Park never had a proper drainage system, so this is a huge upgrade.
The work is complex and complicated, especially considering the crews need to avoid and protect the 48” water main that originates at the Colonel Ward Pumping Station and serves city residents in south Buffalo. Crews have to install the drainage system below the 48’ water main!
The images below illustrate this deep work. Crews excavated a 13’ deep pit called a boring pit, then they place a heavy duty steel shoring box to prevent soil from collapsing inward. Then they drill out the soil with a massive auger, all while pushing the pipe casing through.
This horizontal boring technique is called jack and bore and is used when utilities have to go under an existing utility or roadbed where disruption in service is not allowed.
No groundhogs were witnessed during these operations and contractors on site are anxiously awaiting springs’ forecasted arrival.
As always thanks for tuning in and keeping engaged with activities on site as work advances on this truly unique community park renovation project!
Mark McGovern, RWPC Director of Park Operations
