Another recent event, that may not have gotten much attention, occurred on the morning of April 26, 2025, at Freedom Park, located at the foot of Ferry Street, Buffalo, NY.  This area is located just downstream of the Peace Bridge, and is the site of the old ferry crossing to Canada before the Peace Bridge was built.  This very popular park offers tremendous shore fishing, but also is along one of the most dangerous stretches of the Upper Niagara River.  In fact, this area is where the Buffalo PD family lost Officer Craig Lehner during a dive training exercise.  Following a tragic death of a youth who fell into the fast waters, and another rescue that had first responders searching for drift wood to use to help bring the victim to shore, Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs member Southtowns Walleye Association (SWA), began an initiative to solicit donations to secure state-of-the-art secure life ring/ life saver stations, for installation in our area parks along our waterways.  Working with the Buffalo Common Council and the local East Side Anglers Club, Buffalo United Front, and the Friends of Broderick Park (now Freedom Park), the commitment was made to install several of these stations at Freedom Park, with the Buffalo City Parks providing the installation services.  Three life ring stations were installed before the union stepped in and objected to the installation work being done at no cost, suspending the installation of the planned number of stations.  

Well, as the politicians continue to fight over making these public places safer for the community to enjoy – which is the point of the park to begin with – community enjoyment and enrichment, an individual went into the river and was caught in the frigid fast waters dangerous reach.  Fortunately, and luckily, a station was installed in close proximity to where the victim went into the water, and the City of Good Angling Neighbors leapt into action, successfully pulling this young man from the waters with that safety ring provided by SWA!  This area needs more life ring stations, as it is a much larger waterfront than 3 stations can effectively cover.  In fast waters, regardless of temperature, you have literally seconds to get that life ring to the struggling victim before currents wash them away.    Some safety ladders wouldn’t hurt, either! 

Rest assured all parties involved in this effort continue to fight to make our public parks along our incredible waterfront safer for the whole community, not just the anglers.  And with many other places in other states having such stations installed, with the proper amount of them to cover the length of waterfront, it leaves many in the Federation wondering why our area doesn’t exercise the same due diligence?  The Erie County Fisheries Advisory Board got word to Erie County, resulting in county parks, like Black Rock Park, Isleview Park and even Sprague Brook Park receiving a station near the highest traffic areas, some stretches could certainly use a few more units, too.  The sportsmen and women of Erie County saved a life.  Help us today to improve the safety of our areas.  Contact us at the Federation to learn more about how you can help today!

Photo credit- courtesy of George Johnson