Black Water Acres

Harvesting purpose.

Black Water Acres is an accessible four-season site offering training, recreation, horticulture, and habilitative services. Located at 170 Slade Drive, Alden, NY 14004, this project is the first of its kind in WNY and provides the ability to explore, discover, and engage your senses.

Come achieve with us - your trusted resource for over 75 years!

Learn Grow Work Play slogan of Black Water Acres for program differenciation

Smiling girl painting bee boxes in our art program for Black Water Acres. She is sitting at a table wearing a paint smock and is painting the bee box yellow with a black bee image on it.

Photo of many honeybees on a tray. The queen bee has a blue dot on her and is easily spotted among the other worker bees. This is one of the trays from our hives at Black Water Acres.

A smiling girl wearing a pink 'Barbie' T-shirt, showing her rainbow-colored hand with a butterfly-shaped glove, sitting at a table covered with colorful art supplies and crafts. A man in the background is working at a table in a room with various ite

Photo of the sunflower field at Black Water Acres with a bright blue sky and white puffy clouds.

Three women smiling at an art gallery, with colorful abstract paintings in the background, one of them using a walker.

Photo of a green grasshopper sitting on a yellow sunflower with dew on it at Black Water Acres farm.

Photo of a young woman in a wheelchair working on yellow bee boxes in our art program. The young woman is wearing a white and red shirt smiling for the photo. There are two additional females in the background of the photo, a staff member, and anothe

A young man is creating art on a piece of paper with colorful markers, sitting at a table with other children wearing casual clothes.

Photo of various kinds of artisanal lettuces in colors of green and a reddish brown in the ground.

There are two women in the photo working in the garden, one of them is holding an orange tray and the other is instructing her with information about the vegetables.

Photo of light yellow and darker yellow sunflowers in the garden at Black Water Acres catching the sunlight in the early afternoon.

A female staff member in an orange, yellow, and red tie dye t-shirt is instructing a young man with how to properly deadhead and care for orange marigold flowers.

Photo of multiple green cabbage plants in a field at Black Water Acres

Photo of the front center section of the Black Water Acres building at night with the lights illuminating the building and signage that reads "Black Water Acres" and "Harvesting Purpose".

Picture of a container farm with multiple trays of herbs and lettuces growing in a hydroponic setting with led grow lights.

Photo of the main lobby, fireplace, seating, and chandeliers of the Black Water Acres building with fall decorations consisting of leaf garland, pumpkins and artistic gourds, and fresh floral arrangements.

A photo of one of the trays from our honeybee hives with around 100 bees on it making honey and wax.

Group of five people standing inside an elevator with a wood panel wall behind them. They are wearing casual clothing, some with identification tags, and appear to be posing for a photo.

closeup photo of the leaves of a green cabbage head growing in the field at Black Water Acres.

Features at Black Water Acres

Workforce
Training

Creative
Arts

Habilitative
Services

Outdoor
Recreation

Accessible
Horticulture

Beekeeping

At Black Water Acres, people will learn new skills while working toward their personal goals.

Learning happens by doing. This gives people the opportunity to discover new interests, develop skills, and be active members of the community.

Training opportunities:
Retail • Agriculture • Horticulture • Culinary • Hospitality • Janitorial

Our services include:

A young man is working in a document processing job. He is sitting a desk, smiling, and processing paperwork in our Vocational Employment Services program.

Build skills. Gain confidence. Prepare for the future.
People learn by doing through hands-on experiences such as hydroponic growing, cooking/culinary classes, bee keeping, honey production, caring for the property, and helping plan community events. Along the way, they develop workplace skills like teamwork, communication, problem solving, responsibility, time management, and customer service.
Activities are designed to help people discover strengths, build meaningful relationships, increase independence, and prepare for future employment while participating and volunteering in the community.

An image of a young woman that is supported through The Arc Erie County New York and a Male Staff Member. Both are smiling. The female is wearing a blue shirt with a butterfly.

This program helps people learn new skills while being active in the community, which helps them explore their interests, build friendships, volunteer, and take part in more meaningful activities.
Each person’s experience is based on their goals, interests, and strengths. This helps them build confidence, become more independent, and stay connected to the community.

Photo of an Arc Erie County staff member instructing a young man participant in caring for marigold flowers

This program helps people explore careers, build job skills, and prepare for employment.
Learning through hands-on experiences including job exploration, volunteering, worksite visits, and community activities, they discover their strengths, develop new skills, and gain confidence while exploring different career opportunities. The program helps each person identify their goals and take the next step toward finding a job and building a successful future.

A female staff member is assisting an adult man with an art project in one of our community habilitation programs.

This program helps people build skills they need to live more independently and be active in their community. People work one-on-one or in a group with staff to build confidence and learn everyday skills based on their personal goals. Programming takes place in their home or in the community. Skills they could work on are budgeting, laundry, cleaning, socialization, and becoming familiar with community resources.

Built on an expansive property in Alden, NY, this hands-on farming space is made for our program members and the community to get their hands in the dirt, learn new skills, and connect with nature.

We are turning this property into a fully working agricultural spot where everyone can participate, no matter their ability level.

Here is a quick look at what our people will be doing on the farm:

Beekeeping

Tending to real bee hives and learning how honey is made.
Container Farms

Using high-tech shipping containers to grow fresh food indoors all year long.
Open Fields

Planting and harvesting larger crops out in the fresh air.
Garden Beds

Easy-to-reach raised beds so everyone can plant flowers and vegetables comfortably.

It’s all about trying new things, building confidence, and growing together.

At Black Water Acres, we help people build rewarding careers through three specific, hands-on job paths:

Horticulture
Growing fresh food year-round inside our high-tech container farms and seasonal in-ground growing.

Hospitality
Working directly in our banquet facility to host events and serve guests.

Retail
Providing support and training for achieving success in a retail role.

Culinary Arts
An experienced Chef will provide learning through practical skill development and on-the-job practice in a culinary workplace.

Janitorial
Keeping our spaces clean, safe, and running smoothly through building maintenance.

With the right support, anyone can succeed in a regular, everyday job, and we provide the exact training, resume help, and on-the-job coaching needed to make it happen.

Our services include:

A young woman is smiling at the camera wearing her Market Apron and running a point of sale device for taking orders. She is wearing a tie dye shirt in the colors of red, orange, and yellow.

The Arc Erie County New York works with local high schools to provide job readiness training and career preparation for students as they plan for life after graduation. With financial approval from ACCES-VR, these services help students explore the professional world, develop workplace skills, and take important steps toward competitive community employment. Services are available in classroom settings or through individualized one-on-one support for high school students with an IEP or 504 plan.
“Working with my job coach helped me through a hard time when I lost my job. This program helped me get a new job and helped me get my life back together.”
-Tim Troidl, UPS package handler

Image of an older man working pushing shopping carts at a grocery store in our Helping Hands program at Wegmans Markets

The Arc Erie County Supported Employment Program helps people with disabilities find great jobs, learn new skills, and succeed in the workplace.
We look at each person’s unique strengths and choices to match them with the right local business. Our team supports people through the initial job search and hands-on training to long-term support as they settle in. Every job is in the community, and our participants are hired directly by the business and paid a competitive wage.
Our job coaches act as the perfect bridge between the employer and the employee. They make sure the worker is fully ready for the job and quickly help solve any challenges that come up.

A Woman is working weighing out cookie dough while working at a bakery. She is wearing a blue apron, disposable gloves, and has glasses and a backwards hat.

Through our Employment Training Program, participants can take part in a variety of paid internships right in the local community. These real-world work experiences give students hands-on practice, boost their confidence, and build a strong resume for their future careers.
Where We Work: Active right here in our community.
Who Can Join: Adults ages 18 and older.

Engagement in play is essential for people with developmental disabilities. It fosters cognitive development, emotional regulation, and communication. Black Water Acres will provide a variety of engaging and enjoyable activities for people of all ages.

We want people to get out and play, so we offer recreational programs, creative programs like art, music, movement, and gardening, as well as respite, if you need a break from the usual routine.

Our services include:

Image of a young girl out at an amusement park on a ride wearing a blue shirt, giving a peace symbol with two fingers

Recreational Respite: This community-based program enjoys the wide range of events and activities available in the WNY community. Activities may include going to a movie, restaurants, bowling, parks, sporting events, concerts, fairs and festivals. A monthly calendar outlines available activities and participants are invited to attend events based on their interests.
In Home Respite: This program provides support for families and caregivers as it allows them to have a break in caregiving while a trained staff person provides supervision for their loved one. Services occur solely in the person’s home, giving family members the opportunity to leave the home to run errands or remain in the home and take time to relax. Waiver enrollment required for admission.

gif of calendar with dates increasing throughout the month

Key Dates and Phases

Receive final architectural drawings for Main Building.
Issue RFP for contractor selection.
Review contractor bids & complete vendor selection.
Break ground for construction of Main Building.
Construction of Main Building complete. Black Water Acres formally opens and programming launches.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Celebration event. Site open for programming and serices.

Hydroponic Container Farming Build Currently in Process

Coming In a Few Short Months

Our hydroponic container farm operation is currently being built and will be ready for full grow capabilities in late December 2026 / early January 2027. A contract was signed with Nimble Farms for build out, operations, support, distribution, and more increasing our overall success with the project. We will be growing lettuces and basil for wholesale distribution with local grocery stores, restaurants, and community partners. More information coming soon - look for our logo on clamshell packaging soon! This year-round growing operation will provide workforce training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported through The Arc Erie County New York promoting inclusion and workforce development programming.

lettuce grow operation in hydroponic container farm

Nimble Slogan, Grown locally, everywhere and photo of lettuce in clamshell packaging.

Photo of container farm inside with rows of lettuces growing under led lights in a hydroponic controlled environment.

Closeup of the top of a basil plant in a container farm hydroponic setting through Nimble Farms

Information on a closeup photo of a head of lettuce. The following information is on the photo: Local= more nutritious, Stays Fresher longer, Non-GMO Always, and Pesticide free

Trays of lettuce seedlings under led grow lights in a purple hue due to the red and blue lights.

Basil plants growing in a hydroponic container farm setting that we will be growing at Black Water Acres.

Basil Plants that are growing in a container farm.

Meet Our Black Water Acres Team

Photo of Dennis, Black Water Acres Director standing next to a promotional poster for the project

Dennis Essom

Director of Black Water Acres

Dennis joins the team having large scale organization, education, and program management. He has led multimillion dollar contracts and the overall operations of many vocational training programs throughout his career. Having an extensive background in vocational education will pair well with our workforce training programs and opportunities at Black Water Acres. He has worked with diverse populations from varied backgrounds and people within the IDD community. Having a calm and organized personality, his leadership skills have assisted him with countless connections throughout the WNY community, along with State and Federal elected officials where he has pushed for workforce development, education, and advocacy for underserved and underrepresented populations.

Photo of Teresa, our farm coordinator standing in a red dress in the forest

Teresa Kaczynski

Farm Operations Coordinator

Teresa joins the team with 2 "green thumbs" and an extensive background in farming operations, greenhouse management, bee keeping, and more. She has been an integral part of the Alden community, the home of Black Water Acres, and been an active member and Director of the Alden Chamber of Commerce. Teresa's large connections within the agricultural field, education sector, and local community have helped her significantly in her previous endeavors and will help our agency as Black Water Acres grows. Working as an ESL educator, she has worked with diverse populations and those where patience, clarity, and effective programming has been of utmost importance. As Farm Operations Coordinator she will focus on incorporating her passion for small farming and taking care of the soil, plants, and bees and promoting The Arc's mission of creating opportunities for those we serve.

The Black Water Acres Story

The Black Water Acres name references the historic and curative “black water” mineral baths located in Alden, popular in the late 19th century.

2017
The Arc Erie County New York and Walter R. Musty Homes for Autism collaborated and built a 6-bedroom group home in Lakeview, NY.

2020
Walter R. Musty Homes for Autism visited a therapeutic farmstead program in Ohio founded in the early 1980s, called Bittersweet Farms. The Arc Erie County, Walter R. Musty Homes for Autism, and Wetzl Development decide to collaborate again to bring this new “model” of programming to Western New York.

2024/2025
Wetzl Development donated over 150 acres of land to The Arc Erie County in Alden, NY to create this new non-certified, community integrated opportunity. The Arc Erie County worked with an architect and civil engineer to create structural plans for the project.

2025/2026
Our main 12,000 square foot building was constructed and opened for programming with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in October 2026. This facility will be a hub for many programs, services, and support in addition to rental space opportunities for community groups, parties, business conferences, weddings and more.

2027+
Future growth of the overall site will continue. There are MANY great things planned for the site as we keep adding to services, family and community programming and collaborations.

Let us be part of your special event!

Spacious banquet rooms, a large commercial kitchen, covered outdoor patio, gas fire pit, conference room, movement room, bridal suite and more. Community and Corporate Group Rentals, Parties, Showers, Weddings and more…

Additional Information Coming Soon