In 2021, The Riverline was selected to participate in a three year pilot program to develop and implement workforce training strategies. The 5-City Workforce Pilot Program is funded by Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) in Washington, DC. Five High Line Network projects were chosen to participate. The goal of the pilot program is to create economic opportunities for local residents and build more resilient communities. 

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The five High Line Network projects included in the pilot program are: 

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• Trinity Park Conservancy – Dallas, TX

• India Basin Park – San Francisco, CA

• Grand River Corridor – Grand Rapids, MI

• The Riverline – Buffalo, NY

• 11th Street Bridge Park – Washington, DC

 

Once The Riverline is built, there will be many critical landscaping needs necessary to maintain a high quality and welcoming natural space. A dedicated and experienced Landscaping Team will be required. With that in mind, The Riverline has partnered with the Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology (BCAT) to develop and launch a certified Landscape Maintenance Technology course as part of our equitable development goal of creating new career and employment opportunities for Buffalo residents.

 

Our Landscape Maintenance Technology course is approved by the National Association of Landscape Professionals and is aligned with their Landscape Maintenance Certificate Program. The BBAR funding has allowed us to launch an "learn and earn" model where enrolled students receive a stipend for their time in the course.

 

Our course includes 30 hours of online instruction with experienced instructors from the Olmsted Park Conservancy and the Buffalo Zoo. Once the online component is completed, students are placed on a 30 hour site internship to gain skills and experience directly in the field.

 

In 2024, we had 24 students successfully complete the course and receive their certificates! The students were placed in internships across seven sites that generously gave their time and expertise to help make our program the best it could be. The seven sites that accepted students on internships in 2024 were:

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Buffalo River Compost

Buffalo Zoo

Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Davey Tree Expert Company

Niagara Lawn and Garden Care

T. O'Donnell Landscaping

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While The Riverline and BCAT have focused our workforce program on Landscape Maintenance, each of the other four cities have taken different approaches to their programs. Click here to see their work!