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Albany,
NY – October 2021 / Newsmaker Alert / Governor Kathy Hochul has
announced the beginning of construction for a new, $46 million state-of-the-art
visitor center in Niagara
Falls State Park. The new facility will be a gateway to adventure along
the Niagara River Corridor, greatly improving the visitor experience, complementing
nature, and increasing the length of visits within the park in all four
seasons. The newly built center will welcome new and returning sightseers,
enhancing awareness of regional recreational and cultural offerings.
“Niagara
Falls is a wonder of the world unique to Western New York and it’s awe-inspiring
beauty has been preserved with Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state
park in the United States,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “This new Welcome
Center builds on our work to showcase all of the landmark gems that New
York State has to offer, attracting visitors from around the world and
boosting our tourism economy.”
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The
new 28,000-square-foot visitor center design will open a more seamless
pedestrian connection between the Falls and the city’s downtown business
district begun with the completion the Welcome Plaza last year. Demolition
of the 35-year-old original visitor center will create more open views
of the American Falls. The facility will include new ticketing and information
desks, interpretive museum space including an immersive experience and
exhibits on a diversity of topics including natural, industrial and Indigenous
American history; provide information for visitors about opportunities
unique to the region; new concession spaces; restrooms and associated support
spaces.
The
glass, steel and concrete facility has been designed to complement nature
and include a rooftop solar array, green roof elements and a separate restroom
building. Enhanced site amenities include new accessible paths; plantings;
outdoor exhibits, and interpretive and wayfinding elements. More than 100
new trees will be planted to replace those removed during construction.
The existing 7,000-square-foot regional administration building immediately
adjacent to the facility will be adapted to include a multi-purpose community
room, regional archives, and offices for Niagara regional interpretive
staff.
R.P.
Oakhill has been designated as the contractor for the project which is
slated to begin immediately and wrap up by Memorial Day of 2023. G.W.W.O
a national leader in visitor center development is the architect and Haley
Sharpe Design is designing the interior interpretive exhibits. The Center
will open in Spring 2023.
The
not-for-profit Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, created after the 2014
death of Wilson, the former owner of the Buffalo Bills and a co-founder
of the American Football League, will contribute $8 million toward the
project. The Wilson Foundation continues Ralph Wilson’s remarkable legacy
of support for tourism, parks and outdoor recreation, trail development,
and community revitalization in Western New York.
State
Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul
for her ongoing support of all of our State Parks as well as to the Wilson
Foundation for their commitment to this project. I am so excited that we
will have a state-of-the-art facility to share the special stories and
the remarkable history of Niagara Falls, and encourage our visitors to
explore the many attractions found in the city of Niagara Falls and throughout
the region.”
President
& CEO, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation David O. Egner said, “The incredible
level of detail and thoughtfulness put into the reimagined Welcome Center
will contribute greatly towards enhancing and boosting Niagara’s tourism
and outdoor recreation economy. Through the Foundation’s support, we’re
proud to help accelerate and advance the construction of this landmark
project along the Niagara River Greenway.”
Congressman
Brian Higgins said, “Niagara Falls is an iconic destination in Western
New York that draws millions of people from around the world each year,”
said Congressman Brian Higgins. “The construction of a new visitor center
establishes a modern entry point for visitors that better connects to the
park’s natural landscape and tells the stories of Niagara Falls’ past and
present.”
Senator
Rob Ortt said, “The creation of this new welcome center will allow visitors
to explore all of the history and experiences that our beautiful state
park has to offer while expanding upon the completion of last year’s Welcome
Plaza. The continued efforts to grow the connection between our state park
and downtown Niagara Falls will only serve to benefit both entities and
the residents who operate shops and restaurants within our city’s business
district. I commend New York State’s continued commitment to the beautification
and increased visitor immersion at the natural wonder of the world we are
lucky enough to have located in our backyard.”
Assemblyman
Angelo Morinello said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her continued focus
on insuring that Niagara Falls State Park remains a world class destination.
The new center will assist the millions of visitors to not only learn and
understand the history of the region, the significance the Falls itself
but will also direct them to the downtown business district. This addition
will add to the “Park within a City” vision and removal of any barriers
between the Park and the City.”
City
of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino, “We appreciate the continued improvements
to our Niagara Falls State Park,” said “The new Welcome Center will not
only improve the initial visitor experience but it also promises to add
to it by exploring all that Niagara Falls has contributed to the growth
of Western New York. I would like to thank Governor Hochul for her continued
commitment to our City and our region.”
John
Percy, President & CEO of Destination Niagara USA said, “The investments
that have been made to improve the Niagara Falls State Park over the last
several years have been nothing short of extraordinary. A new, state-of-the-art
facility that provides visitors with year-round access to a superior experience
is a much needed and highly anticipated addition to the park. I commend
New York State Parks for developing a facility that tells the stories of
our region and its rich history which will encourage visitors to explore
our entire destination.”
This
project will complement the $150 million revitalization of Niagara Falls
State Park landscape. Launched in 2011, the Niagara Falls State Park landscape
revitalization plan was a multi-year commitment to renew the park in a
manner that better reflects noted park designer Frederick Law Olmsted’s
vision for the landscape. The plan renovated the park’s major viewing areas
including Luna Island, Prospect Point, Lower Grove, Three Sisters Islands,
North Shoreline Trail, Luna Bridge, and Terrapin Point with new pedestrian
walkways, enhanced landscaping, new benches, light posts and railings.
The interactive Cave of the Winds pavilion, which highlights the natural
and cultural history of Niagara Falls, opened in 2017.
Created
in 1885, Niagara Falls State Park
is the oldest state park in the nation, attracting over 9 million visitors
annually.
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New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees
more than 250 individual parks, historic sites, recreational trails and
boat launches, which were visited by a record 77 million people in 2019.
A recent university study found that spending by State Parks and its visitors
supports $5 billion in output and sales, 54,000 private-sector jobs and
more than $2.8 billion in additional state GDP. For more information on
any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit NYS
Parks website, connect with us on Facebook,
or follow on Instagram
and Twitter. The free New
York State Parks Explorer mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices.
To download, visit: Google
Play Store, NY State Parks Explorer App or Apple
Store, NY State Parks Explorer App.
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Contact:
Albany:
518-474-8418
New
York City: 212-681-4640
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov |