SCHUMER CALLS ON NIAGARA FALLS HERITAGE AREA COMMISSION TO CREATE AGGRESSIVE RESTORATION PLAN TO REJUVENATE NIAGARA FALLS STATE PARK
Schumer Helped Pass Legislation To Create The Commission, Which Is Tasked With Creating A Management Plan For the Entire Niagara Falls Heritage Area
In Wake Of Media Reports About The Park's Troubled State, Schumer Sends Personal Letter To Commission Chairman Urging The Group To Prioritize The State Park's Revitalization In Drafting Overall Commission Plan
Schumer: Niagara Falls State Park Should Be The Crown Jewel Of The Park System
Monday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Niagara Falls Heritage Area Commission to develop a clear and aggressive plan to revitalize the Niagara Falls State Park. After media reports described the run-down condition of the park, Schumer sent a personal letter to Commission Chairman Thomas Chambers, urging the commission to use its authority and prioritize the state park as the Commission develops a new plan to boost tourism and economic development in the Niagara Falls area. Schumer believes that the state park is the anchor of the Heritage Area, and improving the quality of the park should be a central focus of the Commission's plan.
"The Niagara Falls State Park can be and should be the crown jewel of our state parks system," said Schumer. "It should be as majestic and breath-taking as the falls for which it's named. That's why I fought hard to create a national commission dedicated to boosting tourism and economic development in the area. The commission is doing an outstanding job, and their work gives us a unique opportunity to address issues at the Niagara Falls State Park. As the commission moves forward with its planning efforts, jump-starting the state park and creating a plan to make it attractive to potential tourists must be the top priority. I stand ready and willing to help the commission in any way that I can to make sure the Niagara Falls State Park is the best it can possibly be."
Schumer's letter follows a New York Times report that detailed the discrepancy between facilities on the Canadian side and the American side of Niagara Falls. While the Canadian park land around Niagara Falls features many spectacular gardens, well tended lawns and pathways, the Niagara Falls State Park on the New York side has fallen behind. Schumer believes that renovating the state park will encourage both American and Canadian tourists to spend time and money on the American side, providing a boost to regional tourism dollars. Currently, the state park is suffering from worn-out pathways and railings, as well as failing sewer, water, drainage and electrical systems according to the Buffalo News.
The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Commission was authorized in 2008 when President Bush signed a bill designating Niagara Falls as a National Heritage Area and authorizing federal funding for the site. Schumer first began advocating for this type of commission in 2001 when he submitted a list of ways to rejuvenate Niagara Falls to the National Park Service. The following year, Schumer secured $300,000 in funding to implement some of his recommendations, which included pursuing a National Heritage Area designation. A 2005 study by the National Park Service found that designating Niagara Falls as a local heritage area had broad support in the community and that the city contained the infrastructure necessary to warrant that designation. In 2007, Schumer sponsored the Niagara Falls National Heritage Act which was signed into law in 2008, officially marking the Niagara Falls region as a National Heritage Area. The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area stretches from the western boundary of Wheatfield, to the mouth of the Niagara River on Lake Ontario, including the communities of Niagara Falls, Youngstown and Lewiston.
The text of Senator Schumer's letter to Commission Chairman Chambers is below:
Dr. Thomas A. Chambers
Chairman
Niagara Falls Heritage Area Commission
c/o Fort Stanwix N.M.
112 E. Park Street
Rome, NY 13440
June 13, 2011
Dear Dr. Chambers,
I write today to urge the Niagara Falls Heritage Area Commission to prioritize rehabilitation of the Niagara Falls State Park as it lays the groundwork for a management plan for the Niagara Falls Heritage Area. I was proud to advocate the passage of legislation in Congress that authorized the Commission, and I look forward to the management plan that will soon be developed.
As development of the management plan begins, I urge the Commission to put a major emphasis on plans for rehabilitation of Niagara Falls State Park. Much has been reported lately regarding deteriorating conditions at the park. While the work needed to improve conditions at the park would be done in collaboration with New York State and other partners, the existence of the Niagara Falls Heritage Area Commission gives us a unique opportunity to create a plan that includes a focus on returning the park to its former glory. One of the major goals that will result from the management plan is the creation of interpretive presentations and programs that tell the story of the area's heritage. The Niagara Falls State Park will be home to many of these presentations and programs, and in order for this goal to be achieved, the park should be a world class destination for visitors, with trails and public areas looking as great as when the park first opened.
A management plan created by the Niagara Falls Heritage Area Commission will lay out the vision for an area spanning the entire American side of the Niagara Gorge, through the City of Niagara Falls, and north to the communities of Lewiston and Youngstown. Public and private partners are going to use this management plan to foster tourism and highlight the historic aspects of this area. A centerpiece of this area is the Niagara Falls State Park. A rehabilitation plan for the park included within the overall plan will be a great tool to use during the plan's implementation. I applaud the members of the Niagara Falls Heritage Area Commission for your commitment to honoring the history and beauty of the Niagara Falls region, and all residents of Western New York should be excited for what is to come from your work. I look forward to hearing from you on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator