Black Water Acres - From Vision to Reality
Image rendering of the Main 12,000 square foot building at The Arc Erie County New York’s Black Water Acres site.
Progress Update
The Black Water Acres sensory-informed inclusive farm and four-season site in Alden, NY is slated to open late Summer 2026! Located on over 150 acres of land donated by Glenn and Cindy Wetzl (Wetzl Development), the site will offer adaptive and integrated workforce training, outdoor recreation, accessible horticulture, and habilitative services. Created in a sensory-informed manner it will provide the opportunity to experience nature and the outdoors. The space will provide a variety of programming for children and adults with varying ability levels through respite, day habilitation, community and prevocational programs, and more.
With a significant emphasis on farming, the site will host opportunities for training and employment in container hydroponic farming, green houses, raised beds, in-ground plots, all for growing fresh produce and flowers year-round. People with developmental disabilities supported through The Arc Erie County New York currently are able to train in culinary, janitorial, hospitality, and retail at our Specialized Workforce Training Center in Buffalo, NY. Black Water Acres will now add training fields of agriculture and agritourism with an emphasis on obtaining employment both working at BWA and out our in the community. Promoting employment first initiatives and meaningful work will allow this new facility to be a major resource for not only Erie County but all of Western New York.
“It will be a great opportunity for many of our younger teens and adults with developmental disabilities looking for future employment. Fresh produce supplied by our efforts at Black Water Acres will help to support our community through farmer market style sales, wholesale partnerships, and connections with local businesses and schools. We are more than excited as we increase our workforce training opportunities and programming for our area.” said Bryan Devans, Vice President of Vocational Services and Community Supports.
Vocational training on site will include every step from planting and harvesting to cooking and sale. Ample growing spaces that are accessible at Black Water Acres will provide meaningful inclusion for the people supported through The Arc Erie County New York through many employment opportunities. The site will include a commercial teaching kitchen, program space, and spacious community areas that will not only be shared with the residents of a neighborhood senior housing community but also be available for event rentals, weddings, and comfortably holding more than 250 people comfortably in our main banquet rooms. A new partnership will also allow us to have multiple bee hives on the property with expansion opportunities. Bees are great pollinators and will help significantly with not only our crops but also provide honey and wax for our retail operations.
The vision of Black Water Acres started many years back when The Arc Erie County New York partnered with the Walter R. Musty Homes for Autism to build a 6-bedroom group home in Lakeview, NY back in 2017. In 2020 individuals from the WRM Homes for Autism visited a therapeutic farmstead program in Ohio founded in the early 1980s and decided to collaborate again with The Arc Erie County to bring this new model of programming to Western New York. Since then, the land was donated, a local architect was obtained and blueprints were drafted, a mixed-use site development plan was created, a contractor RFP process and selection occurred, partnerships have been fostered and established, and shovels hit the ground. A groundbreaking ceremony back in October of 2025 kicked the vision into reality Construction on our 12,000 square foot main building and site has been progressing along quickly and enrollment for programs has already started for our day habilitation and community prevocational programs.
All of this would not be possible without our generous sponsors and donors to whom we have been excited to partner with. These include but are not limited to The Golisano Foundation ($2 Million), Wetzl Development (≈ $1.1 Million), The James H. Cummings Foundation ($125,000), and Empire State Development ($100,000). The Arc Erie County New York is currently seeking additional capital and program funding for this project; naming rights for a variety of spaces are also available. As a first of its kind initiative in the Western New York Region, Black Water Acres will have major impact, don’t miss out on the opportunity to be involved in the exciting future of The Arc Erie County New York.
“Without the generosity of our donors, we would not have been able to complete the project and reach our financial targets. We are very appreciative of their donations and for seeing great value in our vision. Black Water Acres is not a one-time project. This is a multi-year, multi-phase project that will span well into the future providing opportunities and support for people with developmental disabilities within our agency and the surrounding community.” said Douglas DiGeasre, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc Erie County New York.
The soon-to-open Black Water Acres Project and 2026 marking The Arc Erie County New York’s 75th year of service to the community of Erie County, NY ensure that this will be one of our most exciting years yet as an agency! People and families interested in programming for their loved ones with developmental disabilities can reach out to Intake@ArcErieCounty.org , call 1.833.Arc.Erie, or review our various services and programs on our website ArcErieCounty.org for additional information. Capital and Program funding opportunities, major gifts, donations, and naming right inquiries can be sent to Luke Kantor, Director of Marketing & Community Outreach at LKantor@ArcErieCounty.org.
