History of Gardens Buffalo Niagara
It all started when…
In 1993, Marvin Lunenfeld and Gail McCarthy attended an urban garden tour in Chicago and decided it was a concept that could work equally well for their block club in Buffalo.
1995
Marvin Lunenfeld founded Garden Walk Buffalo (GWB) with 29 gardens in the Norwood/West Utica neighborhood.
1998
Garden Walk Buffalo expands to Allentown. First central site headquarters. [Asking Jim C - WHERE was this??]
2000
Garden Walk Buffalo expands to the lower West Side and has 100 gardens. Arlan Peters chaired the GWB committee.
2004
First Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants awarded.
2005
Website developed.
2006
Garden Walk Buffalo Book and DVD released. GWB Committee begins its formalization with Jim Charlier, Jeffrey Tooke and John Hochadel as its co-chairs.
2007
Garden Walk Buffalo Inc. receives 501c3 status from the IRS and expands merchandise options for sale during the walk.
2008
Garden Walk Buffalo has 300 gardens; expands to three headquarters.
2009
Garden Walk Buffalo introduces the use of trolleys to help counter parking and traffic congestion in the area of Richmond/Summer.
2010
National Garden Festival is launched [or created]? as a springboard from GWB to encourage garden tourism in WNY.
2011
National Garden Festival presents the first Tours of Open Gardens event on Thursdays and Fridays in July throughout the Buffalo Niagara region.
2012
First Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale on Sunday, June 24, 2012 at the Parkside Lodge in Delaware Park with 21 vendors, a plant society row, and a Hosta Society show tent.
2013
The National Garden Festival was awarded the “Promotion of the Year Award at the International Garden Tourism Conference in Toronto. Talks begin between the National Garden Festival and Garden Walk Buffalo for the National Garden Festival activities and events to be absorbed into GWB.
2014
20th Anniversary Celebration of Garden Walk Buffalo with 400 gardens and a Wine and Roses Event; National Garden Festival activities and events are absorbed into Garden Walk Buffalo Inc.
2015
Garden Walk Buffalo Inc. renames itself as GWBN Inc DBA Gardens Buffalo Niagara (GBN) and establishes a new board structure. First year Gardens Buffalo Niagara produces the Tours of Open Gardens event and other National Garden Festival events in addition to the Garden Walk Buffalo event.
2016
Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale moves to the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens expanding from one to two days with 33 vendors and a plant society row.
2018
East Side Garden Walk launched with 70 gardens.
2019
Garden Walk Buffalo expanded to Parkside and held it’s 25th Anniversary celebration with a Silver Anniversary Soiree Tour.
2020
10th Anniversary of Tour of Open Gardens.
2021
First Urban Farms Day event in August with 16 participating farms.
2022
First Children’s Garden Festival held on Box Ave.