Free wireless Internet access is coming to Delaware Park’s Parkside Lodge in early 2010.

The Wi-Fi will be a first for the Olmsted parks.

“We are excited about Wi-Fi in the park because it will allow people who have a need for Internet access to utilize the park all season,” said David Colligan, chairman of the Olmsted Conservancy’s board.

Wi-Fi access was made possible through a portion of a $20,000 grant the Verizon Foundation presented to the conservancy this week.

“We’re in the hub of three great colleges — Medaille, Buffalo State and Canisius — and we want to make sure students feel welcome here,” said Thomas Herrera-Mishler, the conservancy’s president and chief executive officer. “This will make coming here for them more appealing.”

The year-round Lunch Box cafe and community meeting room in Parkside Lodge will be able to take advantage of the Wi-Fi, as well as people who want to sit outside, nearby.

The Verizon grant also will be used by the conservancy to assist with the training of its workfare job force.

John Dudek, vice president of institutional advancement, said about 400 people in the park’s state workfare program — which requires work for welfare recipients — have received training in “green-collar” jobs. Many moved on to PIVOT, a state-subsidized wage employment program, with some going onto the conservancy’s seasonal payroll.

In other conservancy news, Herrera-Mishler said he has been attending meetings with city officials and remains optimistic that the city will retain the conservancy to continue maintaining the Olmsted park system.