BUFFALO, N.Y. — Plans are moving forward to transform Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park.

A community meeting Wednesday night provided a progress report.

Detailed design and construction drawings are now done in preparation for bidding and additional funding is being sought for infrastructure.

There are three major parts to the project, the park core, a shoreline project, and a pedestrian bridge project over the I-190.

The transformation is being funded with a $50 million gift from the Wilson Foundation. A total of $10 million will go specifically to sustaining and maintaining the new park.

One member of the community focus group says it's important to keep engaging with the public.

"We have to engage with each of the people that use that park and use it on a regular basis, and they use it year round, and even through COVID. It probably got even more popular with COVID than it ever was," said Marnetta Malcom of the Imagine LaSalle Focus Group.

Construction is expected to kick off in the spring of next year.