1. Goat Island Restoration Planning Grant - $75,000
This project will result in the completion of a Landscape Restoration Plan for
Goat Island that considers historic, ecologic, user, and park maintenance
factors. The plan will provide a clear, ecologically sound blueprint for New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
2. Three Sisters Island-Niagara Reservation State Park-Phase I - $700,000
The Three Sisters Islands restoration will employ a comprehensive approach to
recapture the historic Olmsted vision, renew degraded landscapes and ecological
communities, and improve access for park users. The resulting project will
enhance aesthetic, historic, and ecological qualities of the Islands and create
new interpretive and public education opportunities.
3. Luna Island & Stedman’s Bluff Restoration - $650,000
Luna Island provides a unique vantage point to view the American Falls and Luna
Falls at their precipice. Impacts from over 100 years of tourist visitation has
resulted in the almost total degradation of grasses, shrubs and trees with
asphalt spread to cover the wear and tear. The project will entail reversing the
effects of aging by replacing what has been lost with the addition of a natural
pallet of dolomite, earth, and native plant material.
4. Whirlpool State Park Rim Trail Restoration - $500,000
The project will rebuild the overlook retaining walls, replace the railing and
footings with the new design barrier rail, and rehabilitate the natural stone
pavements and stairs by removing the asphalt veneer and rebuilding the floor and
stairs. The effort will also move upland threatened portions of the Rim Trail,
control drainage, and improve access to the Overlook with a ramp, landings and
parallel railings.
5. Niagara Gorge Trail Whirlpool-Devil’s Hole Restoration - $675,000
The gorge trails will be improved while also preserving the natural features of
the gorge and improving public access for tourist, sportsmen, bird watchers and
local residents.
6. Artpark Theater Stairs Replacement -- $280,000
Replacing the stairs in the lawn of the Main stage Theater will improve access among a variety of park patrons throughout this very heavily used facility.
7. Cave of the Winds Access Trail Renovation and Safety Improvement -- $1.1 million
The Cave of the Winds Access Trail and Observation Platforms at the base of the Bridal Veil and American Falls are a major attraction and tourist destination within Niagara Falls State Park. They attract over 400,000 tourists per year. Over the years, due to less than satisfactory original construction, intensive use and extremely harsh environmental conditions, the trail, decks, platforms, railings, and other facilities have significantly deteriorated and are in need of major renovations and safety improvements. In preparation for this project the Niagara Region of State Parks is expending approximately $250,000 for “rock stabilization and rock scaling” on the gorge face above the trails and observation decks to maintain visitor safety.
8. Comprehensive Operations Plan -- $250,000
This comprehensive operations plan will include addressing various issues such as visitor arrival and orientation, multimodal capacity/demand analysis, visitor accommodations, trolley operations, circulation, parking, wayfinding, lighting, and landscaping and visitor center adequacy. It will serve to identify high priority projects consistent with the Greenway Mission and provide an implementation
plan to aid in planning upcoming construction activities to support the Park and its place along the Greenway.
9. Adaptive Water Sports -- $76,000
This plan proposes to provide a handicap-accessible Canoe/Kayak launch system at the newly created East River Marsh Enhancement Project site. The siting of this feature will be within the sheltered waters of the “half moon” jetty at the river edge line. A concrete accessible path down from East River Road driveway along with parking is pre-existing at the site.
10. East River Connector Trail -- $175,000
The proposed East River Marsh Connector Trail project would link a number of existing park or community elements, i.e., East River Marsh Enhancement Project, the existing nature trail network along the easterly shoreline of Beaver Island State
Park, the new jetty and canoe/kayak launch area at the East River shoreline and the
South State Parkway bike/pedestrian trail which has been in existence for many years.
11. Boundary Waters Treaty Celebration -- $15,000
The Boundary Waters Treaty Centennial Celebration is a cross-border Niagara region initiative and is the location for the historic binational event. It will be held on Saturday June 13, 2009, during Boundary Waters Week, a regional initiative scheduled to run from June 5 – June 14, 2009. Boundary Waters Week was conceived to extend the engagement, reach and benefits of the many and diverse Centennial activities currently being planned.
12. Old Fort Niagara -- $879,000
The roofing and electrical projects will be accomplished over the next two years by roofing contractors and electrical consultants; the casemate wall will take masons working five years in clement weather to accomplish the repair.
13. Heritage Park Restoration -- $10,000
In celebration of the 125th anniversary of Niagara Falls State Park, Petticoat Park, will be renovated and renamed Heritage Park. When work is complete, this park will become an appropriate connection between the City of Niagara Falls and the State Park. Working with community organizations, the existing gazebo will be repaired as necessary, boulders with plaques marking historical accomplishments will be placed thematically throughout the park. In addition, walkways will be re-graded and paved, garden plantings will be added as will screening shrubbery. Lighting will also be enhanced.
14. Niagara Falls State Park 125th Anniversary Celebration -- $15,000
2010 marks the 125th Anniversary of Niagara Falls State Park. Dedicated on July 15,
1885, Niagara Falls is the oldest State Park in the nation. To celebrate this milestone, program events that will last throughout the year are scheduled. http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/events_schedule.aspx
15. Four Mile Creek 200 Loop Comfort Station -- $540,000
An existing comfort station in the 200 camping loop of Four Mile Creek State Park has seen its useful life and is in desperate need of replacement. The existing building foundation and superstructure is failing thus causing a myriad of structural and aesthetic failures. The building is heavily used by patrons in the popular 200 camp loop. We propose replacing the existing facility with a new comfort station very similar to the one built in the 100 loop campground recently, which has been very well received. The new building would be constructed adjacent to the existing building making it easier to facilitate and ease of accessibility for both vehicles and pedestrians alike. This will allow seamless transition from old to new after construction. The new building will be code compliant, conform to ADA requirements, and built to maximize the use of green building materials and construction practices.
16. Fort Niagara Soccer Field Comfort Station/Pavilion -- $560,000
The existing comfort stations utilized by park patrons in this area are not located close to the play fields and also require people to cross the extremely busy main park road to reach them. The NYSOPRHP proposes to add a new comfort station at this much frequented facility that will be more conveniently located on the same side of the road as the soccer fields. It will be serviced by an extension of new water and sewer lines. Sanitary effluent will be sent to existing nearby municipal treatment facilities. The building will be constructed of brick to blend in with its historically significant surroundings and architectural vocabulary and will be located away from the road to the rear of the playing field for added patron safety. It will remain open to the public year round during regular hours of park operation. The new building will be code compliant, conform to ADA requirements, and built with green building materials and construction in mind. We propose to integrate a pavilion into the design of this new facility for use as a shelter for picnics and gathering
17. Electrical Distribution System Upgrades at Fort Niagara -- $1,875,000
This project includes the total rebuild of the primary and secondary underground electrical distribution system in two areas of the park, the Main Park and the Historic Old Fort. The project includes replacing the existing pole-top service, installing new energy efficient transformers, conduit, cable, and switchgear. Over 1,000 feet of conduit/cable will be required to serve the Old Fort area of the park and another 6500 feet will be needed to serve the remainder of the park.