Hamlin Park has been designated a local historic district after an eight year effort by the Preservation Coalition and the Hamlin Park Community and Taxpayersí Association.

It is the city's first historic district east of Main Street, the first composed primarily of 20th century houses, and the first in which the social contributions of African Americans figure prominently in the designation.

Hamlin Park gets its name from Cicero Hamlin's 19th century horse racing grounds, the Driving Park, and was later developed by, among others, Hamlin's sons.

The district ó Buffalo's largest ó is bounded by Main Street, Humboldt Parkway, and East Ferry Street. It can be divided into four sub-areas.

• Humboldt Parkway, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, has the largest houses.
  
  
• A southern section, north of Ferry Street to Northland, comprises land actually owned by Hamlin. Typical here is Brunswick Blvd., part of a grid street pattern. The streetscape has maintained its integrity since the period of construction (prior to W.W.I), with one-over-one doubles with uniform setbacks, brick ground floors, glazed sunrooms, and entry porches. Personal expression and variation is found on the wood-sheathed upper story and attic gable.
  
  
• A section between Florida and Delavan is defined by smaller houses and the meandering course of Scajaquada Creek, now buried.
  
  
• A northern section, north of Delavan Avenue, is typified by Hedley Place, which has many single family houses in Colonial Revival and ìFour Squareî styles.

The late Rev. Charles Perkins launched the campaign in 1990. HPCTA leaders Margaret Strassner, Sadye Johnson, and Bea Berman worked tirelessly to achieve the dream. The Baird Margaret Wendt and foundations and M&T Bank contributed generously to get the project over the hump last year.