Originally known as 'The Parade,' the park served as the city's primary athletic center in the late 19th century.
The park was designed by the same landscape architecture team responsible for New York City's Central Park.
It is part of a larger interconnected system of parks and parkways designed as one of the first urban park systems in the United States.
The site was renamed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the late 1970s to better reflect the diverse community surrounding it.
The wading pool is specifically designed to allow children and families to wade safely in water just a few inches deep.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park is a 56-acre historic greenspace in Buffalo designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. It is distinguished by a expansive, shallow wading pool that serves as the park's centerpiece during warmer months. The park originally opened in 1894 as The Parade and was renamed in 1978 to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The site includes multiple playgrounds, a splash pad area, and extensive paved walking paths. The wading pool is known for its reflective properties and large footprint, providing a distinct urban cooling feature. The park acts as a major community hub, hosting various neighborhood festivals and seasonal events. It remains one of the largest parks within the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy system.
The elevated path overlooking the expansive wading pool with the park's tree line in the background.
Bring water shoes for the wading pool, as the concrete surface can get hot under the sun.
Take advantage of the various benches placed along the perimeter of the pool for shaded viewing.
Visit on a weekday morning to avoid peak weekend crowds during the summer months.
Do not visit the wading pool area outside of the summer season, as it is drained during the colder months.
The wading pool and splash pads are seasonal, typically operating only during the summer months.
No glass containers in the wading pool area; keep pets on a leash in designated areas.
