Ohio Street Boat Launch and Regatta Overlook

The Ohio Street Boat Launch site is located 421 Ohio Street, Buffalo, NY. It sits along the right side of the Buffalo River, 1.5 miles upstream of the river’s mouth and between the Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association property to the north and the Buffalo River Landing Apartments to the south. The NYSDEC maintains the property for fishing access and for hand launching of canoes and kayaks along the Buffalo Urban Canoe Trail.

The purpose of this Project was to expand and enhance an existing public access facility along the Buffalo River waterfront to encourage paddling, boating, fishing, and passive recreation. This improved access area connects the water-based Blueway trail system to landside Greenway trail systems in multiple locations along Buffalo’s Riverfront. All design and construction work for this Project must incorporate recent and planned improvements at the site and adjacent properties. All work performed for Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper must be accomplished with the protection of water resources and the environment in mind.

The goals of the Project were to design and implement the following:

• New car-top and paddlecraft boat launch.
• New vehicular and pedestrian traffic pattern to allow for more efficient hand launching.
• Improvements to parking area pavements and pathways to allow for universal access.
• Installation of a fixed fishing pier parallel to shoreline.
• Installation of a pedestrian promenade/walkway and fixed pier overlook platform along the Ohio Street Inlet and river shoreline.
• Installation of in-water shoreline habitat improvements and fish attraction features.
• Development of debris deflection features