Five months to the day since the formation of the extratropical disturbance off the shore of southern Oregon that ultimately led to the crippling “Snovember” storm in Western New York, the Town of Cheektowaga has today unveiled its master work– Suburb of Ruins, a new park/recreational facility/art exhibit commemorating the much-publicized weather event.
Located at the site of the former Garden Village Plaza and stretching from where Hills used to be all the way to where Tops used to be, the new landmark is now open to the public for such diverse uses as spring sledding, snowball/garbage fights, wedding photography, and late-night burial of the newly deceased.
A joint effort between nature (some snow) and man (five months’ worth of garbage), Suburb of Ruins can be enjoyed from many different angles but to grasp its enormity, the best vantage point is probably high atop the hill at the corner of French and Union– where the oil change place used to be. From above, auxiliary piles of garbage structures can be seen dotting the landscape near Fay’s Eckerd Paper Cutter The Salvation Army Save-a-Lot.
It’s breathtaking and will only become more intoxicating as spring temperatures assist in the thawing of the trash.
If visiting Suburb of Ruins in a civilian vehicle, exercise extreme caution. Navigation around the monument is treacherous due to potholes that have been growing in both breadth and depth since Dairy Queen served its last Mr. Misty sometime during the Reagan administration.
No formal dedication ceremony is scheduled.
