Environment DEC
From the October 2004 issue
Governor Signs Bill Creating Niagara River Greenway Commission
Governor George E. Pataki signed into law legislation creating the Niagara River Greenway Commission. This commission, first called for by the Governor in his 2004 State of the State Address, will aid in the planning and development of a greenway of interconnected parks, river access points and waterfront trails along the Niagara River from Lake Erie at Buffalo to Lake Ontario at the site of the historic Fort Niagara.
Strawberry Island,
located on the Niagara River,
has been designated as a
New York State significant
coastal fish and wildlife habitat
The Governor also announced that the state is acquiring 34 acres of land along Spicer Creek in the Town of Grand Island which will provide new public access and recreational opportunities along the Niagara River. The parcel is adjacent to town parkland and will be managed jointly by the town and the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). This land will be open to visitors and residents of western New York for passive outdoor recreational activities such as bird watching, hiking, fishing and canoeing.
Open Space Protection
"Today's bill-signing is the next step in fulfilling our vision for an interconnected Greenway along the Niagara River stretching from Buffalo to Fort Niagara," Governor Pataki said. "The Niagara River Greenway Commission will provide a solid framework for open space protection and public access along the Niagara River and build on our success in revitalizing Niagara Falls and its parkland. I'm proud that this new commission will work with local governments and our western New York delegation to boost tourism, enhance recreation and create new jobs and economic opportunities for the people of western New York."
"Protecting valuable open spaces such as the Spicer Creek property is critical to the effort to develop a continuous Greenway along the Niagara River. Through these and other conservation initiatives, we are working to connect communities within the Niagara River corridor, preserve one of the state's most important ecosystems, and open up new outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors to the region," Governor Pataki added.
The Governor was joined by state and local officials at a bill signing ceremony at Fisherman's Park in the city of North Tonawanda, where he also announced that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will provide $200,000 to aid in the planning and development of the Niagara River Greenway.
DEC Commissioner Erin M. Crotty said, "This project promises to help fulfill Governor Pataki's ambitious vision for this region by protecting valuable open space and improving public recreational opportunities. We look forward to working closely with the Town of Grand Island to manage this important parcel as part of the town's park system."
Priority Project
The Niagara River is a priority project identified in the state's Open Space Conservation Plan in recognition of its unique ecosystem that supports significant fish and wildlife habitat. The 34-acre property being acquired by the state is located along East River Road in the Town of Grand Island and includes rights to a portion of the bed of the Niagara River along 1,600 feet of its shoreline. The property is bordered to the south by Spicer Creek and is predominantly located within a state-regulated Class I wetland.
The Governor's plan to create the Niagara River Greenway is the final step to restoring Frederick Law Olmsted's 19th-century vision for open space and conservation areas along the Niagara River. Olmsted, America's greatest landscape architect, once described the Niagara River corridor as one of the most beautiful places in America, equal to or exceeding Yosemite Valley in California.
Greenway Commission's Plan
Under the legislation signed into law by the Governor, the Greenway Commission will be responsible for developing a plan that will do the following:
- Designate the specific boundaries of the Greenway
- Create an inventory of existing park and other lands under the jurisdiction of the state, public corporations and municipalities
- Identify other lands that can contribute to the purposes of the Greenway
- Recommend how the Greenway could be linked to upland and interior communities in order to promote linkages to the Niagara River
- Evaluate how economic development activities in proximity to the Greenway can support and complement it by identifying ways for the commission to work with municipal, state and federal agencies, public and private corporations, not-for-profit organizations and private property owners and interests
- Make recommendations for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the Greenway
The commission's draft plan will be subject to public comment and hearings and must be approved by the municipalities within the designated boundaries of the Greenway. The plan then will be submitted to the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation within two years of the effective date of the act for review and approval.
Commission's Responsibilities
The commission will be responsible for establishing advisory committees, including a local government advisory committee consisting of the chief elected official of each municipality adjacent to the river, and a citizens' advisory committee consisting of various interest groups.
Activities of the commission will be coordinated with each municipality and its parks, cultural, and local planning activities. The commission will not have the power of eminent domain.
Commission Members
The commission will be made up of 14 voting members, with eight of them appointed by the Governor. Two of the eight will be appointed upon the recommendation of the temporary president of the State Senate, and two upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the Assembly. Each of those appointments must be comprised of residents of a municipality adjacent to the Niagara River.
In addition, six voting members of the commission will serve "ex officio." They include the Secretary of State; the commissioners of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Economic Development, and the chairperson of the New York Power Authority, or their designees.
Each of the appointees will serve a term of four years. Members will receive no compensation for their service, and the Governor will select a chairperson for the commission. The commission will meet at least once every two months until approval of its plan by the commissioner and will meet quarterly thereafter.
