Delaware Park 1870 >

Front Park 1871 >

Martin Luther King, Jr. Park 1871 >

Olmsted’s masterpiece. Our treasure. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

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Cazenovia Park 1897 >

South Park 1895 >

Riverside Park 1898 >

Message from the Chairman of the Board & Executive Director Dear Friends of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy: Thank you as always for your ongoing support for our mission. 2015 was a year of significant change and transformation for the Conservancy. Our revitalized leadership includes the engaging and talented Stephanie Crockatt, who, heading into her second full year as our executive director, has already forged and strengthened relationships in the community, the region and the nation. Our board also welcomed three new members whose commitment, generosity and experience is already helping us to stay on mission and expand our focus. That mission and focus has multiple messages. Our first mandate—always—is to physically and literally advocate for and maintain Buffalo’s historic Olmsted Parks. Our other passion is to pursue park excellence; we take great pride in demonstrating the daily value and impact for our community’s quality of life, contribute to cultural tourism and provide “curb appeal.” The challenge we face is in engagement and fundraising—from the wonderful individuals who volunteer to the corporate partners who make many of our efforts possible; thank you. We remain proud of our unique partnership with the city and look forward to our upcoming 150th anniversary in 2018. Keep loving your Olmsted Parks! Sincerely,

Kevin Kelly Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOPC

Greetings everyone, The value of our historic park system definitely increases with each passing year and 2015 was another shining year, as we have now achieved international world-class acclaim! Our 2015 annual report reflects the diligent efforts of so many at the Conservancy who serve the organization’s mission. All who labor, volunteer, support and dedicate their efforts should be commended. Many do not realize that from Riverside to South Park, the system spans 850 acres across six primary parks, seven parkways, eight landscaped traffic circles and a few smaller spaces. The parks continue to serve proudly as a scenic stage and setting for nearly every major cultural attraction in the city. Knowing the importance of a strong first impression for cultural and regional tourism, the Conservancy strives to raise awareness and funding to maintain Olmsted’s masterpiece: treasures which also serve as the front and back yards to many fortunate residents. Buffalo is lucky to have so many of these jewels all planned perfectly within walking and biking distance. And best yet, they are free of charge to all who wish to enjoy them. We are grateful to have the city’s invested assistance and appreciate the opportunity given to steward your parks. Remember, tax dollars through the city and our unique public-private contract contributes to about 40% of our annual budget for park maintenance. The remaining 60% we raise each year from you, our private donors, foundations and corporations. Take a look at what we achieved in 2015 and stay tuned for more results. Keep in mind how these parks looked 20 years ago with graffiti, vandalism and overgrowth. Your Conservancy brings tremendous value to the quality of life in Buffalo, and we hope you will continue to make these treasured landscapes a priority charitable choice both now and in the future. Thank You!

Stephanie Crockatt Executive Director

BUFFALO’ S H ISTORI C PARKS :

making history every day The City of Buffalo is an important partner. The Conservancy is committed to our collaborative relationship, and grateful for their support.

WINTER 2015 • Winter Blast: Mayor Byron Brown, BlueCross BlueShield executives and employees joined us to open the skating season at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Basin with a family and community event. One of the coldest winters ever provided a great opportunity for old-fashioned pond skating; attendance was up 364% at this designated BCBS Healthy Zone. Their funding supports free skate time and skates for all. “With multiyear committed partners like BCBS, we see growth in community engagement and volunteerism. We look forward to building relationships like this with other generous corporate community members,” Stephanie Crockatt, executive director, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. We want to ensure that this partnership improves the city and the region’s health. Our employees support the places and spaces where we invest by being present: volunteering and working on-site. This investment supports the community, engages our employees and enhances the health of the place we call “home.” Julie Snyder, vice president, corporate relations, BlueCross BlueShield of WNY

SPRING 2015 • FootGolf: This fun, new sport is a hybrid of golf and soccer. All you need is a soccer ball and your feet. The American FootGolf League has certified Delaware Park’s new FootGolf course. The game, as evidenced by the 2,500 rounds played in 2015, is great for groups and players of all ages. Be sure to try it this year—we guarantee you’ll get a kick out of it! • The 2nd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival: This community event, sponsored by the volunteer group Friends of the Japanese Garden, is growing with family activities, performers, a traditional tea ceremony and, of course, an appreciation and awareness of the beautiful blossoming cherry tree grove in Delaware Park’s Japanese Garden. After a lantern was vandalized in 2014, funds raised by the Friends were used to repair and restore it to its rightful place. Additional thanks to the Koessler Family Foundation and The Mentholatum Company for support of this remarkable asset. The BOPC has made it possible for Friends of the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park to really make a difference. We support the garden all year, and help to bring visitors there. We’re always learning something through Stephanie [Crockatt’s] ideas and Planning and Advocacy Director Brian Dold’s knowledge of the garden and the structures. It’s great to support the BOPC and the City of Buffalo through a festival that highlights international collaboration. Paula Hinz, co-chair of the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival

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• The Buffalo Bills are another incredible Conservancy partner. For the past few years, a large group of volunteers has spent a day prepping the Rose Garden and the playground for the coming warmweather crowds. This year a group of 80 dedicated volunteers cleaned up Rumsey Woods, spread mulch and planted trees. The Bills then treated their staff to a team-building picnic in the park. What a perfect “One Buffalo” way to celebrate our Olmsted treasure. Did you know that over 1,700 volunteers per year generously give their time to the Conservancy? Be one of them—we rely on this amazing community assistance! It was a pleasure to work with the BOPC for our 2015 Buffalo Bills Staff Volunteer Day. Our project, to restore parts of Delaware Park, helped the mission of the Conservancy and highlighted our organization’s commitment to give back to the community in such an impactful, positive way. The Bills value the great work the BOPC does to make Buffalo a better place for all of us—and for many generations to come. Gretchen Geitter, vice president of community relations, Buffalo Bills

• More inspiration came from our FLO lecture; Douglas Blonsky, president and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, presented on “Critical Partners in Olmsted Landscapes” at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Mr. Blonsky’s talk reinforced the BOPC’s goal to reengage relationships with the cultural resources in or on the parks and parkways, including Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden, the Buffalo History Museum, Buffalo Science Museum, Buffalo Zoo, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Burchfield Penney Art Center, Darwin Martin House, Kleinhans Music Hall and RichardsonOlmsted Complex.

SUMMER 2015 • Back to the Basin: We kicked off the season at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park’s Splash Pad, which is our partner BlueCross BlueShield’s wonderfully successful Healthy Zone. The Splish Splash Summer Bash was never so much fun. • Golf at our three historic Olmsted courses—Delaware Park (18 holes), Cazenovia and South Park (9 holes each)—was in full swing. When golf passes go on sale and the weather starts to warm up, residents and visitors alike love to hit the public links. Hint: a season pass is a great deal; it gets you on all three courses and includes FootGolf! • Spring into Summer, our inaugural hats and bow tie luncheon featured a five-minute video highlighting the Conservancy’s passionate grounds staff. The event raised awareness that, in addition to stewarding and protecting our historic park system, we rely on heavy-duty maintenance equipment to get the job done every day. Thanks to an anonymous matching donor, the luncheon raised enough money to purchase a new commercial mower. There are 850 acres of grass to mow, trees to water and weeds to pull! • With ongoing support from M&T, the already popular guided walking tours of Delaware Park around Hoyt Lake more than quadrupled in size.

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• Day of Caring: took place in Cazenovia and South Parks, with 300 community volunteer participants. The day tied in to the global HSBC Water Programme—with funds to support improving water quality as well as to provide hands in the removal of invasive plant species and the continued restoration of the bog garden in South Park. Our city is so fortunate to have its historic Olmsted Parks, which is why HSBC partners with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to preserve and protect them. Each year this partnership allows HSBC to further the mission to conserve our public green spaces and engage hundreds of our own Buffalo employees in service to their community. Mark Zeis, senior vice president, commercial executive, HSBC

AUTUMN 2015 • A Park is a Work of Art: Our 13th annual Frederick Law Olmsted gala, with generous support from Bank of America, was held at the newly renovated RiverRock Garden in Riverside Park. The park’s north side was restored with a historic interpretation of the original minnow ponds and now boasts a rain garden and “rock river.” Guests’ responses were gratifying; they felt reconnected and rekindled park memories of days gone by. Bank of America is committed to building thriving communities, and in 2015, we furthered that commitment locally by supporting the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy-engaging employee volunteerism, supporting local bank leaders who sit on the organization’s board and providing grants that support the parks. Bank of America proudly partners with the Conservancy and supports its mission. Kevin Murphy, Buffalo market president, Bank of America

• With funding from the Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Standing Committee Fund, three of our Olmsted parks conducted shoreline and trail rehabilitation work including Cazenovia, Delaware and Riverside. The larger goal is to increase connectivity throughout the parks system and greenway corridor. • Free Delaware Park mobile audio tours debuted! Visitors, using their own mobile device, can hear captivating tales and highlights of Olmsted’s masterpiece. M&T support continued for our fabulous tours, which offer little-known facts about this award-winning treasure. For instance, did you know that the Statue of David is one of only three in the entire world and the only one in North America? M&T understands how important an asset the Olmsted Park System is to our community. The audio tours help expand everyone’s experience of Delaware Park. On one of my walks in the park, I happened upon a couple from Atlanta delightedly using the audio tour. It was made even better when I learned they were associated with the Atlanta Olmsted Conservancy! M&T is delighted to have the opportunity to help launch this refreshing and creative approach to enhance the appeal of our Olmsted Park System. Nancy Brock, M&T Charitable Foundation, vice president program director

Here at the BOPC we are humbled and proud to say that we closed the year with a tremendous sense of purpose, overwhelming community support and gratitude for the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted, the commitment of the City of Buffalo and Erie County— and above all, the dedication of our sponsors, volunteers, staff, neighbors and visitors.

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GENEROUS FRIENDS OF OUR PARKS IN 2015 Government & Capital Projects Partners > Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund > City of Buffalo > County of Erie > Common Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr. > Common Council Member David A. Franczyk > Common Council Member Christopher Scanlon > National Fish & Wildlife Foundation > NYS Department of Environmental Conservation > NYS Dormitory Authority > New York Power Authority > NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation

$25,000+

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York Delaware North HSBC The M&T Charitable Foundation Corinne & Victor Rice The John R. Oishei Foundation

$10,000 - $24,999

Anonymous Bank of America Merrill Lynch Buffalo Sabres J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. Margaret D. Jacobs Philip C. Kadet Anne V. McCune NOCO Energy Corporation The Richard W. Rupp Foundation Robert & Sara Skerker The Vogt Family Foundation Wegmans

$5,000 - $9,999

Buffalo Bills Buffalo Philharmonic Athletic Club Catholic Medical Partners/Catholic Health Judy Dean First Niagara Bank Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Dennis R. Horrigan Lawton Johnson The Paul J. Koessler Foundation, Inc Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Kelly The Mentholatum Co., Inc Rich Products Corporation Roy & Ruth Seibel Family Foundation Aaron & Stacey Siegel, Herb & Aaron Siegel Foundation

$2,500 - $4,999

Arts Services Initiative of Western New York, Inc. Bank of America Jerry & Barbara Castiglia Colucci & Gallaher, P.C. Peter C. Cornell Trust Lions Club of Riverside Inc Jock & Betsy Mitchell James & Victoria Newman Phillips Lytle LLP Frederick & Lisa Pierce Upstate New York Transplant Services Inc Weissman Family Foundation

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$1,000 - $2,499

Anonymous Alliance for Community Trees Gregory J. & Robyn Altman Drs. Amy & Julio Alvarez Balbach Family Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Christopher J. Bartolone Joan Bozer Paula & Alan Bozer Joanne M. Campagna Robert and Patricia Colby Foundation Dr. Elizabeth B. Conant & Camille Cox Mr & Mrs. Dennis Dargavel Days Park Block Club Charles G. Duffy, III Joseph & Janis Dunworth Eclipse Multi-Sport Judith P. Fisher Frey Electric Construction Co. Game on! Sports, Inc Mark Goldman Dr. Susan P. Graham & Dr. Jon Kucera Jane & Richard F. Griffin Edward & Karen Healy Heart of the City Neighborhoods Deborah Hill Mr. & Mrs. John J. Hurley IRV Charitable Trust Johnson Controls, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. William L. Joyce Andrew Kresse Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Kresse Dr. Jeffrey M. Lackner & Ms. Ann Marie Carosella Steven A. Lakomy MD & Ms. Cheryl Lyles David E. Lampe Tony & Kate Masiello MassMutual Financial Group - Buffalo Elizabeth D. McPhail Mr. & Mrs. Gary Mucci NRG Energy Inc The Penn Schoellkopf Fund Inc. Katharine C. Pierce Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Pluckett Jr. Russell J. Salvatore Ms. Anne E. Shapiro Insook J. Shin Titan Development Inc Gretchen & Tom Toles Mr. & Mrs. Peter R. Travers Jr. Montique V. Williams

$500 - $999

Shelley Au Mr. Michael Bartha Mr. Joseph F. Basil Jeff Belt Yves-Richard & Tanika Blanc Denise D. Bothwell Rosanne Braxton Carol A. Bronnenkant Kathaleen R. Burke Gregory J. Castiglia Anne Catt Kevin E. Cichocki Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo John R. Connolly Stephanie L. Crockatt Gary M. Crosby George & Adele K. DeTitta

Amy S. Downing Mr. & Mrs. Clark Eaton, Jr. ECMC Corporation Barbara V. Elias Charles Erckert Janice Walek & Patrick Fagan Edith M. Flanigen Mr. & Mrs. Patrick M. Francabandiero Nickole M. Garrison Kevin J. Hanna Harvard Business School Club of Buffalo Barbara W. Henderson Marie S. & Frederic K. Houston Fund Pamela R. Jacobs Mrs. Florence D & Mr. George F. Johnson Dr. & Mrs. D. Bruce Johnstone Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth R. Kahn Joseph A. Kresse Mark Lema Siobhan McDermott Mr. & Mrs. David W. McIntyre Mr. & Mrs. P.J. McParlane TM Montante Development Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Montgomery, Jr. Richard & Karen Penfold Jennifer Persico Dr. & Mrs. Jospeh A. Ralabate Diane E. Revelas Karin & Scott Socha Robert Stotz & Linda Pellegrino Lee A. Takats Susan E. & John Thomas Michael & Gina Weiner Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Wetter The Charlotte Potter Whitcher Trust Mark Zeis

$250 - $499

H. Jane Arnold Julia Andrzejczak Mr. Bruce C. Baird Lura H. Bechtel Mr. & Mrs. Thomas R. Beecher Catherine M. Beltz Robert L. Bencini Nancy H. Berger Ted & Amy Black Drucy S. Borowitz & Philip Glick Mr. & Mrs. Brian P. Brady Katherine W. Braen Steven H. Buck Dr. & Mrs. John L. Butsch Mr. Michael Collins and Dr. Kathleen O’Leary Mr. & Mrs. Anthony J. Colucci, Jr. John J. Cordes & Michele Heffernan Eugene M. Cullen & Ms. Allison Garvin-Cullen Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Cummings Donna L. DeCarolis Linda & John DeLuca Nancy A. DeTine & James Mendola Amber Dixon Beth & Craig Downing Michael L. Draves Marta Fernández

Mrs. Alison J. Fleischmann Robert & Ruth Fleming Mr. & Mrs. Scott Friedman Daniel T. Gewirth & Nanette S. Que Dr. & Mrs. Laura A. Giacobbe Gregory & Judy Gima Maya Glover Grassland Equipment & Irrigation Sam & Elizabeth Gurney Charles C. Hahn II Paula E. & Jerome Halligan Maureen & Patrick Hanagan Jane & John L. Hettrick Julie Hoeber & Joseph Waszkielewicz John Holenski Don R. Hoover Mr. & Mrs. John L. Hurley Mr. & Mrs. James E. Iglewski John Imahori Edwin M. Johnston, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Stephen T. Joyce James Kelly Mr. & Mrs. David H. Kernan Dwight E. King Michael & Andrea C. Kuettel Kevin & Kelly Lanighan John Leddy Jordan & Holly W. Levy Dr. & Mrs. A. Norman Lewin Mr. & Mrs. Joel Lippes Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Lunt Frank & Kitty Lysiak Hugh MacLean Samuel D. Magavern & Monica Angle Edward & Kate Martin Diane L. & Keith McCoy Robert & Evelyn Miller Elizabeth Moll Mary Mullet-Flynn Albert J. Nihill Northrop Grumman Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Northwood Anthony C. Piccione Dr. Saurin & Katharine E. Popat Joseph & Linda Priselac Paula Rafferty Howard Rose Eileen & Joseph Ryan Carlos Santos Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Savage James & Elizabeth Schmit Gilbert Schulenberg Catherine F. Schweitzer Seneca Niagara Gaming Corporation Mary Simpson & Charles Saunders Dr. Rita R. Sloan Lynne G. Smith Robert & Jeanne M. Spampata Anne & David Taylor Paul E. Taylor Deborah L. Williams Mr. & Mrs. Wayne D. Wisbaum Steven L. Yellen

And thank you to our generous in-kind donors.

Note: This list recognizes charitable donations received from January 1 through December 31, 2015. It does not include gifts in kind, ticket or auction purchases, or other contributions. Please excuse any omissions or inaccuracies, and inform the Conservancy of any such errors, as it is our desire to acknowledge all who support our mission and organization.

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Audited Summary Financial Statements 2015 BALANCE SHEET

December 31, 2015

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND CHANGE IN NET ASSETS

ASSETS

Year Ending December 31, 2015

CURRENT ASSETS

CHANGE IN UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS

Cash Pledges receivable

$ 549,464 10,585

Government grants receivable Other receivables

172,550 23,333

Due from Erie County and City of Buffalo

8,015

Prepaid expenses

22,621

Inventory

8,819

Total current assets

795,387

Investments

241,229

Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

251,421

Assets held in trust TOTAL ASSETS

10,769 $ 1,298,806

UNRESTRICTED REVENUE AND SUPPORT: Government grants

$

1,280,262

Capital grants

776,108

Contributions

558,499

In-kind contributions

1,137,073

Earned revenue

802,934

Special events

244,493

Investment earnings, net

(148)

Other income

6,524

Net assets released from restrictions

146,759

Total unrestricted revenue and support

4,952,504

EXPENSES: Program - Operating

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable Accrued expenses Deferred revenue Total current liabilities

$ 161,580 84,121 538,701 784,402

NET ASSETS Unrestricted Temporarily restricted Permanently restricted

142,017 136,433 235,954

Total net assets

514,404

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

$ 1,298,806

3,282,017

Program - Capital projects

776,108

Management and general

324,743

Fundraising/special events

356,916

Total expenses

4,739,784

CHANGE IN UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS

212,720

CHANGE IN TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS Contributions

26,390

Investment earnings, net

(8,533)

Net assets released from restrictions

(146,759)

CHANGE IN TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS

(128,902)

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS

83,818

NET ASSETS - BEGINNING

430,586

NET ASSETS - ENDING

$

514,404

Note: In 2015, BOPC approved the donation of approximately $181,000 of equipment to the City of Buffalo. The transfer officially took place in February 2016.

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UNRESTRICTED REVENUE & SUPPORT AND EXPENSES REVENUE & SUPPORT

EXPENSES

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2016 EVENTS New in 2016 Presented by Wegmans, visitors can now enjoy the self-guided mobile audio tour of the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park.

June 16 SPRING into SUMMER

2nd Annual Spring into Summer Fundraising Luncheon at Kleinhans Music Hall to kick off the park season and benefit the Conservancy.

July & August 2nd Saturday Walking Tour around Hoyt Lake, presented by M&T Bank. Self-guided mobile audio tours also available.

August & September New! 3rd Saturday bike tour of Olmsted’s west side, presented by Rich Products. Self-guided mobile audio tours also available.

September 9 14th Annual FLO Gala in South Park to benefit the Conservancy, with honorary chair, Congressman Brian Higgins.

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Olmsted’s masterpiece:

Six Parks, Seven Parkways, Eight Circles and Small Spaces I

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2015/2016 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CURRENT STAFF

Kevin Kelly, Chairman Dennis R. Horrigan, Chairman-elect David McIntyre, Vice Chairman Philip C. Kadet, Treasurer Judith M. Dean, Secretary

Humbert Baez Jr. Mark Brand Jerome Burns Kristen Camizzi Ed Christmas Ciara Clemons Stephanie Crockatt Shane Daley Brian Dold Beth Downing Troy Drake Patrick Dunlavey Abi Echevarria Maureen Hanagan Chris Hartgrove Dave Hoover Brian Jenkins Stan Jennings Jr. Adam Kneis Andrew Lloyd Eileen Martin PJ McParlane Patty Mertens Zhi Ting Phua Martha Neri Greg Robinson Bob Stotz Willie Tinker Joseph Volino Anthony White

Yves-Richard Blanc Alan J. Bozer Joanne Campagna Richard C. Cummings Dennis Dargavel Clarke E. Eaton Jr. Nickole Garrison Richard F. Griffin Florence Johnson Anne V. McCune Elizabeth D. McPhail Jock Mitchell James D. Newman Corinne Rice Aaron Siegel Julie R. Snyder Montique Williams Mark Zeis Emeritus Joan Bozer Joseph (Jerry) Castiglia Robert J. Kresse Mark V. Mistretta Victor A. Rice Gretchen Toles Appointees Joseph McMahon, Erie County Jack O’Donnell, City of Buffalo Peter Savage, Erie County Legislator Mary Simpson, Common Council Steven Stepniak, Ex-Officio

Photo credits: Joe Cascio, Lee Lulek and Zhi Ting Phua

Parkside Lodge 84 Parkside Avenue Buffalo NY 14214

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