BILL NUMBER: S6903A
SPONSOR: RYAN S
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to designating the Scajaquada heritage area
 
PURPOSE:
To establish the Commission on Scajaquada Heritage Area in an effort to
provide governance, oversight, sustainability and expansion of the
targeted historic area for purposes of preservation, tourism and
enhanced economic development opportunities for the City of Buffalo and
Western New York. The Commission's primary focus will be to foster the
preservation, restoration and adaptive reuse of all existing historic
properties, landscapes and landmarks within the project areas and stimu-
late the revitalization and redevelopment of the designated area.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: designates the Scajaquada heritage area.
Section 2: effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Scajaquada Creek is a spring fed creek rising well to the east of the
proposed heritage area, in the Town of Lancasrer, but emerging into the
center of Forest Lawn Cemetery in the City of Buffalo and flowing to the
Niagara River.
The proposed site for the Scajaquada Heritage Area is rich in Indigenous
and United States History. This area, site of the Battle of Scajaquada
Creek (1814) a major strategic victory for the United States in the War
of 1812, has been a significant location in multiple layers of history
and the development of Buffalo and Western New York.
In the pre-colonial era, Scajaquada Creek corridor was a vital part of
the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) homeland. The creek and its
surrounding lands provided essential resources such as fish, water, and
fertile grounds for agriculture, many lived and farmed along the shores.
The creek served as a natural transportation route. Native Americans
used it to connect with other waterways, facilitating trade, communi-
cation, and movement between settlements.
This area contains six significant War of 1812 sites, the Market Square
National Historic District, the Lower Black Rock and Upper Black Rock
Historic Districts, and Forest Lawn Cemetery. Post War of 1812, the
Village of Black Rock and the Harbor thrived as an industrial engine and
competed for the terminus of the Erie Canal. This area is also home to
an underground railroad site in the fight for freedom against slavery
(Freedom Park) and a launch pad for the fight for freedom for the Irish
by the Fenians (Tow Path Park).
The proposed Heritage Area contains many significant cultural and
academic institutions, such as Delaware Park, the Buffalo Zoo, the
Buffalo History Museum, the AKG Museum, SUNY Buffalo State University,
and Canisius University.
In acknowledgement of the historical, cultural, and economic signif-
icance of this area, this bill would establish the Scajaquada Heritage
Area and would preserve and enhance the historic, cultural, economic and
architectural resources of the area through tourism and enhanced econom-
ic development opportunities. With a focus on revitalizing the upstate
economy, the Scajaquada Heritage Area would serve as an important vehi-
cle and force, providing the foundational momentum to create various
economic opportunities and investments in Western New York.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S6903: 35.03 parks recreation and historic preservation law, 35.03(1) parks recreation and historic preservation law
S6903A: 35.03 parks recreation and historic preservation law, 35.03(1) parks recreation and historic preservation law