The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors met today and approved several items related to the Buffalo Heritage Carousel project at Canalside. The first approval was for the acquisition of an 8,565 square foot parcel along the Central Wharf at Canalside from the City of Buffalo to facilitate the construction of the Buffalo Heritage Carousel Project. The project will consist of constructing a building near the corner of Prime and Perry streets to house the nearly century-old De Angelis Carousel.

“The carousel will be a colorful new attraction that will help history come to life at Canalside,” said ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia.

The vintage carousel was manufactured in 1924 by Spillman Engineering in North Tonawanda for Dominick De Angelis. The carousel was in operation until the 1950s at which point it was stored by the De Angelis family until Buffalo Heritage Carousel acquired it with a goal of providing family-oriented recreation on Buffalo’s waterfront and to celebrate Western New York’s industrial heritage.

Associated with the carousel project, the Board today also approved a contract to Scott Lawn Yard, Inc to shift the children’s beach, located at the southern end of the wharf, further south to accommodate the new carousel building. The new beach will be approximately the same size but will have improved access from the wharf and an adjacent parking lot. The re-designed beach will be surrounded by boulders and landscaping. The New York Power Authority Industrial Incentive is providing funding for the beach relocation.