Falls Parks: Canada Thrives, U.S. Struggles
From WNED-AM 970 NEWS:
On one side of Niagara Falls, state parks need $85 million in repairs while on the Ontario side millions of dollars are going into renovation of Old Fort Erie and the Laura Secord House.
WNED’s Mike Desmond talked with the Chairwoman of the Niagara Parks Commission, Fay Booker, about the difference.
This year, the commission will spend around $100 million (Canadian) on its capital and operating budgets, serving millions of visitors from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The Ontario agency is set up to pay for itself by raising money and keeping it.
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Dedication to mark Falls park’s anniversary
From the Buffalo News:
The yearlong celebration of the 125th anniversary of Niagara Falls State Park — the oldest state park in the nation — will reach a climax on Thursday when State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash dedicates Heritage Park, a refurbished “pocket park” at Main Street and the Robert Moses Parkway, just outside the main park.
Ash will be joined by relatives of Thomas V. Welch, who was the first superintendent of the state park, for the 1:30 p. m. ceremony.
July 15, 1885, was the date on which then-Gov. David B. Hill officially opened the park to the public. Once privately owned, the park property had become a state reservation in April 1885 when Hill signed the necessary bond issue.
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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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Rally to save parks from budget ax
WIVB Channel 4 in Buffalo had a report (including video) on an upcoming rally to try to save the NY State Parks system.
Wednesday in Albany, a rally to save the state parks from the budget ax.
Residents and state leaders will hold a rally to protest cuts in the governor’s budget, which could mean the closing of 90 state parks and historic sites statewide.
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Residents oppose closing of state parks
From the Buffalo News:
State legislators from the Assembly and Senate and from both sides of the political aisle were quick over the weekend to criticize the proposed closing of state parks and historic sites as part of Gov. David A. Paterson’s effort to close an anticipated budget gap of $8.2 billion in the fiscal year beginning April 1.
And ordinary residents who use the parks joined in the criticism.
Paterson’s plan, unveiled Friday, would save $6.5 million by closing 41 parks and 14 historic sites when the new budget year begins April 1. It also would reduce services at 23 other parks, including Niagara Falls State Park, which is widely known around the world and is a magnet that attracts untold numbers of international travelers.
Assemblywoman Francine Del- Monte, the Lewiston Democrat who represents Niagara Falls among many other communities along the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, called upon State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash to explore ways for local municipalities to keep some of the parks open.
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State parks loving parade?
From the Niagara Gazette:
City tourism officials expressed support on Monday for a tentative plan to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of Niagara Falls State Park with a July parade through the downtown area.
Members of the Niagara Falls Tourism Advisory Board endorsed the concept of the city celebration parade, which is being developed in cooperation with state parks by Peach Festival parade organizer and former A Festival of Lights CEO Jerry Wolfgang.
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Rink revival
From the Niagara Gazette:
The recent record snowfalls and frigid temperatures have delayed the installation of a free outdoor ice skating rink, set to open in DeVeaux Woods State Park.
New York State Park spokesperson Angela Berti said workers removed more than 18 inches of snow Wednesday in an effort to refill the rink with water to create a safe skating surface.
“We expect the rink to be open early next week,” Berti said. “We want this to become a community ice rink and we think it’s something that everyone is extremely excited for.”
In October, the City Council announced a partnership with State Parks by agreeing to contribute $20,000 in casino revenues to transform the park’s former tennis courts into the city’s first outdoor ice skating rink since the closing of Lackey Plaza in 2003.
Mayor Paul Dyster said the city and State Parks have done a good job of not allowing the project to fall through the cracks and expects the rink to be ready for skaters by Monday.
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