Spoiler alert: you have to cross a rickety old bridge to get to Unity Island Park. I stumbled across the park by mistake. It was bookmarked and everything, I just didn’t exactly know how to get here. If you’re coming from the 290, take the Ontario St exit, take a right on Niagara and follow that down… past Sun, take a right on Niagara and it’s past the overpass on your right hand side. Kind of in this weird parking lot that houses the International Bridge. The Bridge has a passenger side(when a train is not crossing it) so you can cross it. I, personally, think it’s scary. I hold my breath every time I cross it. Once you’re over that part of it, it gets better. You come across a parking lot with a porta potty that’s in good condition. You have a choice to make: left or right? Left will lead you into Broderick Park and right will take you into a lovely walking trail. I take left for an adventure and right to be alone. My alone time consists of me and the weeping willow. Shady and away from the trail. Bring a book and a journal and you’re all set. If you decide left, it takes about fifteen to twenty minutes to get to Broderick Park. I love Unity Island because it’s a good place to be by yourself. I haven’t explored the walking trails around the area, but cars can pass through the main drag. I’m not sure how long you can continue that way… I’ll have to check it out. You can also get right near the water, which you can’t do at Broderick or Bird Island Pier. If you want to stare out at the water, good place to be alone and do that. Admittedly, there’s not much to do at Unity Island, but you do have good views of the Peace Bridge and plaques of history tidbits. It’s also your best option for parking if you want to head to Broderick Park or the Pier. I’m not sure what’s up with the parking situation at Broderick, but this works if you have time to explore the trails. It’s definitely one of my favorite parks in Buffalo. Quiet and peaceful, just my place.
Fox E.
Place rating: 5 Buffalo, NY
My fave shape is not a circle, nor is it a triangle. It’s a Squaw. I’ve been to this place many times over the course of the last decade or so. I come here because I love hanging out in the park before, or after, walking out on Bird Island Pier which goes right under the Peace Bridge and is one of the best walks in Buffalo. There’s only one way out there, though, and only one way back. The park itself is just a lovely place to spend time. Most recently I was here with an out of town friend from Toronto, and he said«I had no idea Buffalo had places like this.» So I have to give it a 5-stars for all the nice experiences I’ve had here. This park is on the North end of the Island, and if you go to the South end, you can walk along Bird Island Pier all the way under the Peace Bridge and it’s fantastic. It’s a lovely park with views of both the Industrial areas of Riverside, and the leafy lush Fort Erie, Ontario across the water. It’s a nice wildlife sanctuary of sorts too, even though it’s got nothing on Tifft. The pier itself scores 5, the park scores 4. It could be a little cleaner, and more could be done with it, but it’s still fantastic.
Katherine P.
Place rating: 3 Buffalo, NY
I’ve been wanting to get out of the house on the weekends and go walking, as long as the weather cooperates. Usually, this involves Delaware Park, which is a wonderful park. However, I wanted to give another park a try this weekend, so down we went to this unfortunately named park. I do hope that it gets a name change, because it is an interesting park, giving you a great view of the Niagara River and Canada right across the way. There’s a multi-use bike path that goes through the park, it and the park in general are in need of some TLC. The bike path lines are pretty faded and being eaten by the land, and there are a ton of downed branches along the way. One of the cooler aspects of the park are the interpretive signs explaining events of Canal history as well as the War of 1812. I’m guessing this place is much busier in the summer, although it was by no means empty when we visited. There were people with off-leash dogs and some others doing some fishing on the canal side. It would also be a fun place for trainspotting, we watched a gigantic freight train creep across, loaded up with cars being imported into the US from Canada. I’ll definitely visit again!
Paul L.
Place rating: 4 Los Angeles, CA
Squaw Island Park is a recent and gritty addition to Buffalo’s park system. The 60-acre park encompasses land that saw action during the War of 1812 and even more recent action because it served as a garbage dump for many years. The International Bridge, erected in 1900, passes through the park and is the transit route for cargo trains to and from Canada. Bike paths weave through the park, too. It’s a gem in the rough, to be sure, based on history alone. It is located in the down-and-out neighborhood of Black Rock, an area ripe with architectural gems that need only a bit of polish to bring back their former glory.(Stand at the intersection of Amherst Street and East Street to get a sense of what I mean.) The park doesn’t get much attention because it’s a bit tricky to find and you have to cross a wonderful old turnstile steel bridge to get to it. The cargo trains to and from Canada pass over this bridge(and the adjacent International Bridge); so, while this introduction may not be the typical ‘park’ experience, it is exciting. The park has some picnic areas and benches, but it’s mostly grass and trees that offer plenty of room for visitors. The views of the International Bridge, the Niagara River and the Canadian shoreline are stunning and offer a lot of photo opportunities. This is my favorite park within Buffalo’s city limits because of its sense of place.
