Buffalo, NY – Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera and State Senator Sean Ryan were joined by the Black Rock Riverside Alliance, Black Rock Historical Society and several local non-profits and organizations to announce the passage of legislation (S6903A/A7615A) establishing the Scajaquada Heritage Area – the third such designated heritage area in Buffalo, alongside the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor and the Theater District Heritage Corridor.

The designation will help raise the historicity of Scajaquada Creek to a new level of distinction, and will label it as culturally, historically and environmentally significant within the broader landscape of New York State.

Under state law, the boundaries for each state-designated heritage area accompany a management plan that will be presented to the New York State Historic Preservation Office and are then reviewed for approval.

The Scajaquada corridor is rich in Indigenous and United States history. Once a vital homeland for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, it was later the site of the Battle of Scajaquada Creek in 1814, a decisive U.S. victory during the War of 1812. The area went on to thrive as the Village of Black Rock, a hub of industry that competed for the terminus of the Erie Canal.

Today, the corridor contains six significant War of 1812 sites, including the Market Square Historic District, Black Rock Historic Districts, and Forest Lawn Cemetery, alongside landmarks of the Underground Railroad (Freedom Park) and the Irish nationalist movement (Tow Path Park). It is also home to world-renowned cultural institutions including Delaware Park, the Buffalo Zoo, the Buffalo History Museum, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, SUNY Buffalo State University, and Canisius University.

The creation of the Scajaquada Heritage Area marks another milestone in Assemblymember Rivera and Senator Ryan’s ongoing effort to celebrate Buffalo’s historic neighborhoods, foster community pride, and strengthen its economy through heritage-based development. Establishing this brand-new heritage corridor will preserve and enhance the historic, cultural, and architectural resources of Scajaquada Creek through tourism and enhanced economic development opportunities.

Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “The Scajaquada corridor has been a site of immense importance for centuries, home to the Haudenosaunee, a turning point in the War of 1812, a center of abolitionist activity, and an engine of Buffalo’s industrial growth. By establishing the Scajaquada Heritage Area Commission, we’re taking a major step toward ensuring that these stories are preserved, shared, and leveraged for future generations while driving cultural tourism and economic revitalization in Western New York.”

Senator Sean Ryan said, “The Scajaquada corridor is one of Buffalo’s most historically significant areas. Today it is home to some of our city’s most important cultural and academic institutions, and a key driver of our local economy. Creating this heritage area will preserve the historic resources it encompasses while driving new opportunities for tourism and economic growth.”

Buffalo Common Council Member Joe Golombek said, “This has many possible long-term benefits for the North District and City of Buffalo.”

Mary Ann Kedron, founding member of the Black Rock Historical Society said, “This designation is a victory for the people of Black Rock and Riverside, who have long recognized the importance of preserving our history while revitalizing our neighborhoods. The Scajaquada Heritage Area will bring new life to our community, connecting our stories with visitors from across New York State and beyond, while creating new opportunities for investment and pride in our future.”

Anne McCooey, Executive Director at the Black Rock Riverside Alliance said, “As a community based and driven 501(c)3 with a focus footprint within the majority of the proposed area, the BRRAlliance celebrates the designation of the Scajaquada Heritage Area. With the Scajaquada Creek unifying this area in the past and now well into the future, this is an opportunity to bring natural history, indigenous history education and cultural communities together under one designated entity that allows us to create a plan that will outline environmental, economic, cultural and community goals to celebrate an important part of history within a new and progressive framework. We look forward to Scajaquada Heritage Area becoming another celebrated area within the already rich New York State Heritage landscape.”

Kevin Heffernan of the Scajaquada Corridor Coalition said, “Today is a celebration. We are recognizing the communities that rose up along this waterway and the profound impact they've made on our city and region's history. This new designation further realizes the goals established by the Region Central plan that built consensus for the revitalization of this corridor and commits to the goal of reconnecting the community within it.”

Melissa Brown, Executive Director of the Buffalo History Museum, said, “The Scajaquada is more than a creek – it is a living thread through Buffalo’s story. The Scajaquada Heritage Area invites us to explore and share the creek’s many histories, deepening Buffalo’s sense of place.”

Janne Sirén, Peggy Pierce Elfvin Director of the Buffalo AKG, said, “The Scajaquada Heritage Area is an inextricable part of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and its historic campus. This new designation will ensure that the extraordinary history of this land and neighborhood is preserved and celebrated. On behalf of the Buffalo AKG, I applaud Assemblymember Rivera and State Senator Ryan on this achievement and thank them for their continued stewardship of our city and its resources.”

Paris Roselli, President of the Richardson Olmsted Campus, said, “We look forward to the Scajaquada Heritage Area becoming a reality in which The Richardson Olmsted Campus and the Lipsey Architecture Center Buffalo can participate.From there we can craft and curate even more beneficial outcomes for the community.”

William E. Butler III, President of the Black Rock Historical Society said, “The Scajaquada Creek corridor has long been a place of community and culture.It was first home to the Kah-kwah/Neutral people and later the Seneca, followed by generations of immigrant communities in Black Rock and Grant-Amherst.Along its path stand landmark-worthy sites such as the Polish Cadets Hall, Assumption R.C. Church, and Engine 12 Hook & Ladder.Establishing the Scajaquada Heritage Area offers the best opportunity to honor these heritage communities and preserve their stories, ensuring their vital role in our history is remembered and shared.”

Lisa Smith, President and CEO of the Buffalo Zoo said, “New York State’s Heritage Areas program has long shown that when state and local partners come together, we can achieve powerful results — blending preservation with progress. This designation brings new attention, new partnerships, and new opportunity to this historic area. The Buffalo Zoo looks forward to bringing this vision to life.”