Wilson Foundation helping remake parks in Detroit, Buffalo

DETROIT (AP) — The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation is helping remake waterfronts and improving recreational trail systems in two former Rust Belt cities that meant so much to the late former owner of pro football's Buffalo Bills.

The Detroit-based philanthropy on Wednesday announced investments of $50 million each for West Riverfront Park in Detroit and LaSalle Park in Buffalo, New York. Each is being renamed Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park.

Another $50 million each will go to support regional trails in southeastern Michigan and western New York.

Wednesday's announcements in both Detroit and Buffalo mark what would have been Wilson's 100th birthday. Wilson died in 2014 at age 95 at his Grosse Pointe Shores home in suburban Detroit.

He was born in Columbus, Ohio, but his family moved to Detroit. Wilson took over his father's insurance business, and in 1959 he founded the Bills and helped established the American Football League.

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