Give the Gift of Ralph Wilson Park This Holiday Season
Foolish Club memberships offer a meaningful way to support Buffalo’s new waterfront destination
BUFFALO, N.Y. – This holiday season, Western New Yorkers can give a gift that lasts far beyond the wrapping paper: a $25 membership to the Foolish Club, the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy’s new community program supporting Buffalo’s most ambitious waterfront project. As the park’s first phase prepares to open in 2026, a membership helps sustain trails, playgrounds, athletic fields, and a mile of shoreline—while securing the park’s future for generations and honoring the bold vision of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.
For just $25, anyone can become a Founding Member of the Foolish Club, a name inspired by the national media’s nickname given to Wilson and seven others who took a chance on launching the American Football League in 1959. Wilson’s $25,000 investment helped form the Buffalo Bills and get the league off the ground. The Conservancy honors that legacy by keeping membership at $25, making it accessible and encouraging broad community support.
“As one of the largest public park investments in the country, Ralph Wilson Park reflects Mr. Wilson’s belief that Buffalo deserves the very best,” said Katie Campos, executive director of the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy. “A Foolish Club membership is a simple, meaningful way to be part of something historic, and gifting one allows you to share that Buffalo pride with someone you care about. It’s a perfect gift for anyone who loves this city and wants to see it thrive.”
Ralph Wilson Park is the result of nearly a decade of work transforming Buffalo’s waterfront, sparked by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s early investment in public space and informed by the community-driven Imagine LaSalle planning process. Today, nearly $250 million in public and philanthropic funding is transforming 100+ acres of Buffalo’s waterfront into a world-class destination rooted in resident voices, neighborhood priorities, and Ralph Wilson’s vision for creating vibrant, accessible places for all.
Construction on the 100+ acre park began in 2023, kicking off one of the most significant public space projects in Buffalo’s history. Since then, crews have:
Re-engineered the shoreline to strengthen climate resiliency and protect Lake Erie from erosion
Built a new pedestrian bridge that reconnects neighborhoods long divided by infrastructure
Shaped rolling hills and sledding berms designed for year-round activity
Installed limestone boulders, paths, and restored natural landscapes along the water
Made steady progress on new athletic fields, playgrounds, and multiuse trails
A new play space on the 4th Street side of the park opened this fall. It is anticipated that nearly half of the park will begin opening in 2026, including the new pedestrian bridge, two new baseball diamonds, two soccer fields, miles of trails, and a fully redesigned shoreline.
Every Foolish Club member receives:
An exclusive Foolish Club T-shirt
Invitations to special events and behind-the-scenes tours
Sneak peeks and early access to park updates
Discounts at local businesses
The satisfaction of helping keep Buffalo’s new world class waterfront park thriving for generations
“Ralph loved this community, and I know he would be so proud to see people coming together to support this park,” said Mary Wilson, board chair and life trustee of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “The vision for Ralph Wilson Park began with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s commitment to creating vibrant public spaces, and it’s already making a difference— even in construction—by bringing people outdoors, sparking excitement, and reconnecting Buffalo to its waterfront. Giving a Foolish Club membership is a special way to share in that spirit, a gift that celebrates Buffalo and contributes to the bright future this park is helping to shape.”
Members can also “gift one, give one” by choosing a $50 community membership, which covers a membership for themselves and one for someone who might not otherwise be able to join. Local employers can also participate through corporate memberships, a meaningful employee gift that supports Buffalo’s future. “This founding membership honors the earliest believers, those willing to step up now to help ensure the future of this once-in-a-generation project,” Campos added. “It’s less about the dollars and more about creating a shared sense of ownership in something Buffalo can be proud of.”
To learn more about the Foolish Club or to purchase a membership, go to www. rwparkbuffalo.org/foolish club. For photos of the construction process, click here (Courtesy: Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy).