Between boating on Hoyt Lake, seeing an open-air play and exploring Rumsey Forest, it is easy to forget that this park is located in the heart of downtown Buffalo.
Delaware Park encompasses 350 acres (141.6 hectares) in Buffalo, New York. It is more than just a park it contains some of Buffalo’s top cultural attractions. With a lake, casino, zoo, theater performances and miles of walking trails, this park will keep you entertained for days.
In 1857, American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed the world-famous Central Park in New York City. Delaware Park, which he designed a decade later, is often called “Buffalo’s Central Park.”
Hoyt Lake is the park’s biggest attraction. Between June and September, rent a rowboat to explore the lake. Swimming is not permitted, but fishing is allowed if you have a license.
Marcy Casino is one of the park’s most recognizable landmarks. Once used as a boathouse, this statuesque building is now a popular venue for events.
Enjoy the tranquility of Rumsey Woods in the southern portion of the park along Hoyt Lake. Step into the fragrant rose gardens, where dozens of flowerbeds burst into bloom during the warmer months.
If you visit during the summer, stop by the Tudor-style stage behind the rose gardens to watch Shakespeare in Delaware Park. As a large outdoor Shakespeare festival, this free event attracts international theater talent.
Play a round on the 18-hole golf course or head to the tennis courts for a match. Put together a team to use the baseball diamonds, basketball courts and fields for football, soccer and rugby. Your kids will find three playgrounds within the park.
Don’t miss the famous replica of Michelangelo's David. This large bronze statue is located just south of the Scajaquada Expressway.
Several museums flank Delaware Park’s borders. On the northern side, the Buffalo History Museum offers fascinating exhibits about the area’s past. See an extensive collection of contemporary art at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery on the park’s western border. On the opposite side of the park is the Buffalo Zoo.
Delaware Park is open during the day throughout the year, although many of its attractions are seasonal. General parking and admission are free.
