With an area of 234 acres (93 ha), Delaware Park is the central node in Buffalo’s park system, by far the largest park in Buffalo, and one of the largest and best-preserved examples of Frederick Law Olmsted’s landscape architecture anywhere. All the classic Olmsted features are present here: a large, grassy ”’Meadow”’ that is now the site of the Delaware Park Golf Course, thick stands of trees, and marker|typesee|nameHoyt Lake|lat42.93327|long-78.871677, the 46-acre (18.5ha) pond in the southwest corner of the park that Olmsted originally named Gala Water. An essay by Charles Beveridge on the Olmsted park system in Buffalo describes how well Delaware Park continues to fulfill its intended role as a place for Buffalonians to experience nature and greenery without leaving the city limits, Delaware Park, as per his essay, is the only public space designed by Olmsted in Buffalo that met his definition of the term ‘park’ A a setting of pastoral scenery extensive enough to provide complete escape from the artificiality and noise of the city. Delaware Park is popular year-round, but is most often enjoyed during the warm months, when walking, bicycling, jogging, tennis, golf, and basketball are popular activities, and the renowned ”’Shakespeare in Delaware Park”’ outdoor festival, which takes place here each summer and which is described more thoroughly in the Festivals and Events section below. Hoyt Lake is surrounded by a lovely walking/biking trail and features rowboats and paddleboats for rent at the Marcy Casino during the summer months.