The issue of whether to totally remove the gorge parkway or to retain some variation of it should be settled, clear in everyone’s mind, with total removal being the obvious best choice. And yet those few who insist it should be kept, at least in some contorted “reconfiguration,” continue to resist total removal. Why is this?
What we know of the EDR study (the only genuine study of the entire gorge rim and the related issues that’s ever been done) has provided us with the following conclusions: total removal is not only affordable, but recommended, and doing so would save tens of millions in years to come; existing roads would not be overburdened with excess traffic; the natural restoration of the gorge rim, this creation of this new park, can translate into economic gain for the region, via ecotourism as the major driving force.This study concluded that the most environmentally valuable portion of the rim that needs to be restored first is that stretch between Findlay Drive and the City line at Devil’s Hole.
The notion that the parkway should be removed only from downtown Niagara Falls to Findlay was discarded as nonsense, partially based on a scheme nearly a quarter century old that never made sense in the first place, environmentally or economically. (Of course, the economic part might work in a limited way–if we are willing to turn the gorge rim and gorge into an amusement park.) But if one of the benefits of removal is to prevent traffic from detouring the City, removal to Findlay won’t do it. “Removal to Findlay” was always the politically expedient “compromise” designed to make everyone half unhappy, the coward’s choice.
In 1992 Sasaki & Associates, assisted by Halcyon Lt’d, produced what was called the Niagara Waterfront Master Plan A quick scan of the Sasaki scheme for the gorge rim reveals hopelessly wrong-headed thinking even for 20 years ago. There is language in the plan that acknowledges the importance of the natural environment, even mentioning “stewardship” and “Olmsted.” But aside from these required recognitions, our natural heritage is generally ignored or subjected to further damage in its planning: “clusters” of non-native, ornamental, flowering trees are to be planted along the rim for their “color and fragrance,” selective native tree removal is recommended to “frame views,” a mechanical, vertical tram is to transport crowds down into the gorge near Whirlpool Bridge, with accompanying restaurant & gift shop; the gorge parkway is retained to carry a monorail trolley to Artpark (and also to Canada over the Rainbow Bridge); the now absent Wintergarden and Convention Center (now the casino) figure prominently into economic revival; a gorge walking trail is to be squeezed into the narrow space behind the current State Parks’ maintenance garage, until such time the garage can be replaced with a Visitor’s Center, restaurant, gift shop etc. Nationwide, these kinds of misguided perspectives led Todd Gitlin to write, a year later: “We live in a culture in which everything that starts out original turns into a theme park.” But perhaps the above represents “wonderful” plans for those who wish to retain the parkway, and that is why they are still talking.
The Comprehensive Plan for the City of Niagara Falls, USA, released in 2004, lists “Reconnect the city to its waterfront” as number one, under “Big Moves.” Unfortunately, the language dealing with the issue is vague, mentioning “removal” as a possibility only once in passing, and concentrating instead on words such as “reconfiguration.” It’s time for the Plan to be revisited and updated in this regard.
More recently, State Parks has created via “public input” a total of six options re possible outcomes for the gorge parkway, one of which is total removal. These options are jumbled together in a hat somewhere, waiting for several to be drawn out, perhaps with price tags attached. Five of these choices, retaining some convoluted version of the parkway, have avoided being influenced by ideas of stewardship, or by the Olmsted vision for the stunning landscapes of Niagara.
The grassroots advocacy for total gorge parkway removal, starting in 1997 with the Niagara Heritage Partnership, has contributed to this dialogue, and it’s the feeling of the membership that this has been a significant contribution. Over 80 groups and 4,000 individuals support total removal, etc, (check www.niagaraheritage.org); the Wild Ones Niagara Falls and River Region Chapter moved through the Niagara River Greenway Commission to engage the services of EDR, which resulted in the only definitive study of the issue (Regional Economic Growth Through Ecological Restoration of the Niagara Gorge Rim); recognition far beyond the local scene has been noted: google the commentary specific to our issue written by the Preservation Institute titled “Removing Freeways–Restoring Cities.”
The grassroots, thousands of us, have done our job. What remains is for the City of Niagara Falls, State Parks, and other public agencies and political leaders to pick up the torch and carry on toward total gorge parkway removal and the creation of a striking gorge rim park that will be the gold standard of restoration for centuries to come. If ever a project announced it was “shovel-ready,” this is it. The time for talking about anything other than total removal is over. Now’s the time for action–for all of us to pull together and to get this done for our region.
Helen Kress
Niagara Falls resident
I like the way Dr. Kress is thinking. I believe the Falls needs a new direction. It is clear that it is suffering economically, with only a portion of the population benefitting from any tourist revenue being generated. With the chemical waste history the Falls has endured, why not improve the view? It may not change every mind however, some may see the difference and this may encourage an eco-friendly business to establish an office there. The bottom line is, if what you have been doing isn’t working, do something else. Remembering to always be mindful and not “over-think” the problem for twenty or thirty more years. Sometimes it is simply about action.
Dr. Kress’ thinking is a classic example of “over thinking”. We should concentrate on bring ecotourist to the Niagara gorge trails that are already there. The gorge rim should be for all tourist. She also dismisses the most important section, which is from Main to Findlay in the city of Niagara Falls. While her vision of a non-motorized trail is honorable, she dismisses the fact we are a REGIONAL tourist destination.
The problem is total removal is the most expensive option and it will create ZERO economic impact to the region. How do I know this? Take a walk in the Gorge (below the rim) how many eco-tourist are down there
As usual, another well written article by Dr. Kress. Unfortunately the article should have been titled “The Robert Moses through an environmentalist eyes.” The problem is those are not the only eyes looking at the Robert Moses.
— The plans and studies of the past are mentioned on Niagara Community Forum, not as blueprints, but to illustrate what has been the overall goal of the City of Niagara Falls (and its business districts) for nearly 30 Years. Apparently, It is a goal National Heritage Partnership and Ms. Kress dismisses as secondary.
— The 2004 Master Plan is now the 2009 Comprehensive Plan. The goal to reconnect the city to its waterfront, includes both removal, and reconfiguration of both, the North and South sections of the Robert Moses parkway from the Grand island Bridges to Findlay Drive. Neither of these plans, or the ones before them, discuss removal to the city line or beyond.
— All the plans discuss possibilities of marrying Whirlpool with one lane of the parkway and/or reconstructing Whirlpool as the connection between the city and the gorge.
— Unfortunately, the Robert Moses piece in “Removing Freeways–Restoring Cities,” leans toward the environmentalist point of view. As a matter of fact, it is the only one that leans that way. Most cities remove freeways and expressways for economic reasons. Some even replace them with parkways.
— Olmsted’s plans do not dismiss parkways. As a matter of fact Olmsted saw Parkways as a vital link between city parks.
–The list of 80 groups would like to see something done with the parkway. It is doubtful all those groups are for Total Removal.
— Some time ago, I downloaded the Parkway Petition into a spreadsheet so I could post the comments, promote, and analyze it. Four things: 1) Everyone that signed the petition were for removal in some way shape or form, but not all were for Total Removal. 2) Less 100 (60) were listed as from the city of Niagara Falls and 3) Slightly over 200 (209) were listed as from New York State. 4) Petitions are ambiguous.
After all that, I can still see things through NHP eyes and I can understand why they might want the Niagara Gorge Rim to be converted to its more natural state. Too bad, they do not see through all the stakeholders eyes!!!
Great article. Clear thinking. Won’t it be a beautiful sight to see concrete gone and green space for all to enjoy our beautiful area. Marna Whitworth