Delaware Park
All Things To Do
Key Info
Price & Hours
Details
Introduction to Delaware Park
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the notable landscape architect behind New York City’s Central Park and Boston’s Emerald Necklace, Delaware Park represents the crown jewel of Buffalo’s expansive Olmsted-designed parks system. This system is connected by tree-lined parkways, providing a seamless nature experience.
Main Attractions and Activities
Recreational Facilities
True to Olmsted's vision, Delaware Park’s 350 acres offer ample green space for relaxation and recreation, serving as an escape from the urban hustle. The park features several playgrounds, picnic areas, tennis and basketball courts, and an 18-hole public golf course. A 1.8-mile road circles the park and is closed to car traffic, making it popular with pedestrians, runners, and cyclists. This route also offers a close-up view of the bison sanctuary in the adjacent Buffalo Zoo.
Hoyt Lake Area
On the other side of the park, visitors can rent a rowboat or a pink flamingo-shaped paddleboat to explore Hoyt Lake. The lake area includes a path for meandering, a rose garden, and ideal spots for picnics with views of the neighboring marble-columned Buffalo History Museum and Buffalo AKG Art Museum. Additionally, Shakespeare Hill serves as the amphitheater lawn for the Shakespeare in Delaware Park festival, one of the largest free Shakespeare festivals in the country, featuring two plays six days a week from June through August. In winter, the hill becomes a prime spot for sledding.
Visitor Reviews
Recent reviews highlight the park as spacious, well-maintained, and peaceful. Visitors appreciated its central location to many of Buffalo’s notable museums and attractions, and praised the ring road as a safe and ideal place for exercise or casual strolling.
Location and Accessibility
Delaware Park is located towards the northern end of Buffalo, adjacent to the Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, and Buffalo Zoo.
Hours and Additional Information
Delaware Park is open daily from dawn to dusk, free of charge. It is best accessed by car, with several free parking lots available just inside each entrance. For more information, visit the Olmsted Parks Conservancy website.
