Wallenda needs Canadian approval or Falls walk proposal is dead: New York State Parks
So as the details of the Nik Wallenda/Michael Chan meeting were coming out, there were also reports that if this is going to happen at all, it has to happen as a walk between the two countries. Apparently New York State officials have said a walk solely on the US side is not an option. It would cost too much money. This doesn’t really make sense to me. One of the big things that Mr. Wallenda was promoting to the Niagara Parks was that it wouldn’t cost them anything, as he would cover the costs for everything. If he would do that here, wouldn’t he do that in the US?
From the Niagara Falls Review:
It’s America to Canada — or bust — for Nik Wallenda, according to New York State Parks.
In a statement sent to The Niagara Falls Review Friday evening, New York State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said she has reached out to the tightrope walker to inform him the agency can’t support a high-wire act limited to the American Falls.
Wallenda has not been able to secure approval for an international crossing from Canadian authorities.
“A walk limited to the American Falls is not what New York approved or envisioned in legislation authorizing Nik Wallenda to traverse the Niagara River Gorge from the United States to Canada,” Harvey said in the statement.
“The costs to New York State of managing a walk only across the American Falls would exceed $1 million in direct state expenses, while, because of the physical topography of Niagara Falls and crowd-safety concerns, the number of people who could watch such a walk would be extremely limited.
“As a result, despite the costs to New York State, the vast majority of people on the U.S. side would be turned away from the park and never see the walk.”
Related posts:
- Members of New York delegation respond to Wallenda rejection From Niagara Frontier Publications: In the wake of the Niagara...
- More on approval by NY for Wallenda to talk over Falls Yesterday I posted a few links to articles about Nik...
- Wallenda won’t give up on falls tightrope dream From the Niagara Falls Review: Both Nik Wallenda and the...
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Hafen to the rescue, again
From Niagara This Week:
A Niagara Falls helicopter pilot once again swooped into action after two New York State Parks Police officers were reported stranded in the Niagara River waters above the Horseshoe Falls.
The Niagara Parks Police Service received a call shortly before 6 a.m. on Saturday mroning, with reports that a New York State Parks Police vessel was in distress above the Horseshoe Falls. The officers had been responding to reports of another vessel in distress in the heavy fog, when they began to experience difficulties themselves. The NYSPP vessel had provided assistance to the private boater and then needed help themselves.
In the darkness, the NYSPP officers were unsure where they sat in relation ot the brink of the falls, and used emergency measures to keep the vessel in place until a possible rescue or until sunlight
Ruedi Hafen, owner of Niagara Helicopters, was called to the scene after attempts for a land rescue were unsuccessful.
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- State Parks Commissioner Outlines Niagara Falls State Park Improvement Plans From WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo: New York State Parks,...
- Group puts Falls on list of most ‘playful cities’ From the Buffalo News: The City of Niagara Falls, which...
- Dedication to mark Falls park’s anniversary From the Buffalo News: The yearlong celebration of the 125th...
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Niagara Falls State Park Named Top ‘Green’ Destination in New York
From a press release found on Hospitality-1st.com:
Niagara Falls State Park topped New York’s top ten green travel destinations Monday (April 26) by I Love New York, as part of the state tourism agency’s new “Green Heart NY” promotion initiative.
“It’s truly fitting that New York’s oldest state park topped the list of green destinations in the year of its 125th anniversary,” said Carol Ash, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “New York’s state parks are our greenest and greatest treasures, drawing tens of millions of visitors every year – not only because they’re affordable vacation destinations right in our own backyard – but because there’s nothing else like them in the world.”
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- Residents oppose closing of state parks From the Buffalo News: State legislators from the Assembly and...
- New stairway into Niagara Gorge planned near Whirlpool Bridge From the Buffalo News: A new stairway will descend into...
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Maid of the Mist under siege
From the Tonawanda News:
An Atlanta businessman with eyes on the boat tour operation in Niagara Falls has filed a lawsuit in Albany in an effort to force state officials to allow his company to compete against the Maid of the Mist Corp.
William Windsor, whose son owns a tour-ticket company known as Alcatraz Media, announced on Wednesday he has taken legal action against New York State Parks, the Office of the state Comptroller, the attorney general, Gov. David Paterson, former state parks commissioner Ed Rutkowski and Maid of the Mist officials James and Christopher Glynn in an attempt to void the state’s boat service license with Maid of the Mist which has been offering trips on the river below Niagara Falls since 1846.
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- No easy way to replace Maid of the Mist, executive warns From the Niagara Falls Review: Swapping the Maid of the...
- Tories raise questions about Maid of the Mist deal From CTV Toronto: The controversy over a 25-year lease renewal...
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