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Saints Give Back: D'Youville Student-Athletes Volunteer at Ralph Wilson Park Playground Build

Release courtesy of Andrew Rogacki, D'Youville Athletic Communications

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Over the weekend, the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy hosted a three-day community build to construct a new playground on the 4th Street side of Ralph Wilson Park. Among the many volunteers who rolled up their sleeves were dozens of D'Youville University student-athletes, proudly wearing the red and black as they worked side by side with neighbors to bring the project to life.

From mixing concrete and assembling play equipment to painting, building benches, and moving mulch, student-athletes and coaches put in more than 250 volunteer hours over the course of the project. Their contributions not only kept the build on track but also helped create a space that will soon bring joy and opportunity to children and families across Buffalo's West Side.
 

"We are grateful for every opportunity to support our neighbors on 4th Street," said Ona Halladay, Vice President of Athletics and Planning. "Ralph Wilson Park is a vital asset for the West Side community, and our student-athletes truly value the time they spend giving back within it. I am proud of our Saints athletes, as always, for contributing to a project that will directly benefit the physical and mental health of the West Side's youngest neighbors."
 

The Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy echoed that gratitude, praising the Saints for their energy and commitment.

"The Saints brought that dawg energy! Thanks to D'Youville's incredible student-athletes, the Ralph Wilson Park 4th Street playground community build stayed ahead of schedule," said Katie Campos, Executive Director of the Ralph Wilson Conservancy. "We are so grateful for their service and the enthusiasm they brought to this project."
 

Although the full redevelopment of Ralph Wilson Park remains underway, with an anticipated opening in about a year, the new playground is expected to open to the community this October. For D'Youville student-athletes, contributing to the project was more than just volunteering—it was about investing in the neighborhood they call home during their time at the university.
 

By the end of the weekend, the sight of Saints athletes in action—lifting, painting, digging, and smiling alongside community members—stood as a reminder that Saints never refuse to serve.