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History
By the 1870s the area adjacent to the Horseshoe Falls had become the scene of uncontrolled and unsightly commercial development. Visitors were frequently harassed and swindled by unscrupulous hawkers. This kind of activity made it very difficult to view or enjoy the beauty of the world famed cataracts. In 1878, Lord Dufferin, the Governor General of Canada, made the first public suggestion that a park be established by the Falls. Over the next few years, support for this concept grew. In 1885 the Ontario government passed the Niagara Falls Park Act for "the preservation of the natural scenery about Niagara Falls". To carry out the Act's objective, a Commission was formed. Sir Casimir Gzowski was appointed as its first chairman. This was the beginning of what in now known as The Niagara Parks Commission. Properties around the Falls were expropriated and most of the buildings demolished. A lovely 62.2 ha (154 acre) park, named for Queen Victoria, was then developed. This initial undertaking was officially opened on May 24, 1888. From this small beginning over a century ago the Niagara Parks Commission now hosts millions of visitors each year who come to see the Falls and the Commission’s world renowned parklands and attractions.
The yearly profits of The Niagara Parks Commission are used in part to provide numerous activities and facilities where there is no direct charge to the public. These activities and facilities include a greenhouse that is second to none, open year round with free-flying tropical birds; thousands of floral displays, including the Floral Clock, Centennial Lilac Gardens and the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens as well as hundreds of hectares of lawn and shade trees; boat launching areas; covered picnic pavilions and picnic tables along the Niagara Parkway; and nature trails at the Niagara Glen. There is also a recreation trail which runs parallel to the Niagara River from Fort Erie in the south, to Niagara-on-the-Lake in the north. This wheelchair accessible trail is used for jogging, biking, walking, cross-country skiing and rollerblading. The Bruce Trail intersects Niagara River Trail. The cairn marking its southern terminus is about 200 metres from Isaac Brock's Monument on the easterly side of the Monument park grounds.
More than 70 historic interpretative plaques have been placed along its length. In addition The Niagara Parks Commission sponsors numerous public events including band concerts, the Falls Fireworks throughout the summer and provides special festive lighting during the annual Winter Festival of Lights which takes place from late November to mid-January.
Other places of interest adjacent to the Commissions property at various locations along the River are Fort Erie that is operated by the Commission as a separate attraction, Brock’s Monument and Fort George which are National Historic Sites.
Development
In the years since 1888 land has been acquired all along the river so that the Ontario Niagara Parks system has expanded to 1,720 ha (4,250 acres) and extends along the entire length of the Niagara River. It includes such features as golf courses, historic sites, a horticultural school, a marina, restaurants, and a butterfly conservatory to name only a few. There is also a 56 km (38 mile) recreational trail and the famous Niagara River Parkway. Operations
The Commission raises its own revenue through gift shops, golf courses, restaurants, attractions, parking lots and rentals. It also operates the School of Horticulture located on the grounds of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Established in 1936, this is one of the few residential schools for apprentice gardeners. Only 12-14 students each year are admitted to this 3-year program. External Links