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REMOVING
THE ROBERT MOSES PARKWAY
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT
IS THE ROBERT MOSES PARKWAY? The parkway (four lanes of concrete)
runs along the upper Niagara river, along the lower river gorge to
Lewiston, and through the countryside to Route 18 at Youngstown. We’re
proposing that the 6.5 mile section along the lower river gorge from
Niagara Falls to Lewiston be removed.
WHY
WAS IT BUILT IN THE FIRST PLACE? It was built about 40 years ago,
following a philosophy that viewed the natural environment of Niagara as
only worthy of a "drive by" experience. It functions as an
economic detour around the city of Niagara Falls and as a barrier to the
river.
IS
IT REALLY NEEDED? No, it is an unnecessary duplication of
routes. It has always been "significantly underutilized,"*
and north-south routes to and from Lewiston and elsewhere are perfectly
serviceable: Main Street-Lewiston Road, Hyde Park, Military Road,
the I-190. From Lewiston, for example, Lewiston Road to Hyde Park
(then Lockport Road to Main and/or south end) takes less than five
additional minutes over driving the parkway. *Niagara Waterfront
Master Plan (1992)
WHAT
WOULD REPLACE THE PARKWAY? A restored natural environment of about
300 acres, native trees, grasslands, wildflowers, a hiking and a biking
trail. Butterflies, birdsong, a river breeze through the trees.
WOULDN’T
IT BE EXPENSIVE TO REMOVE IT? Not really. About $2
million. The elimination of maintenance costs would pay for this in
less than ten years. The eventual cost of total rebuilding has been
estimated at nearly 100 million. It will end up being expensive not
to remove it.
ARE
THERE OTHER ECONOMIC BENEFITS? Yes, in the restored natural
environment and in the potential revival of Main Street, Niagara Falls,
New York. Using Main as a sightseeing route for people-movers
carrying tourists (with side-trips to attractions such as the Schoellkopf
Museum, Aquarium, Whirlpool and Devil’s Hole parks) would contribute to
its transformation. Other suggestions and possibilities are detailed
on the accompanying proposal page.
HOW
WILL PARKWAY REMOVAL IMPACT THE DEVEAUX NEIGHBORHOOD? Benefits to
the neighborhood would include open access to the gorgetop park to the
west, a natural landscape with no traffic at all. Some have expressed
concern about increased traffic past Maple Avenue School, but the increase
should be slight. Many commuters will choose alternate routes.
For those who choose Lewiston Road, the 20 MPH speed limit will ensure
safety as it does near other schools, many of them on major traffic
routes.
CAN
A RECLAIMED NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BE A TOURIST ATTRACTION? Without
question, this restored natural environment would have a high potential
for attracting tourists. Hiking and bicycling are family
activities that the six-mile-long park would encourage. Visitors
would extend their time here to experience the whole trail.
Other areas of the country have already realized this potential. In
Cleveland, for example, the successful development and marketing of hiking
trails at The Nature Center, as well as in other outdoor environment
locations, is evidence of this.
HOW
CAN I HELP?
Sign
our petition.
Write
a letter-to-the-editor in support of the proposal. Send it to "all"
of the newspapers. (Send us a copy, too. Niagara Heritage
Partnership, MPO 489, Niagara Falls, NY, 14302 or E-mail: niagaraheritage@aol.com.
Call
(or write) our political representatives. Tell them you support the
proposal and ask what they are doing to help.
Let
us know if you have other ideas or if you would like a petition to
circulate.
Niagara
Gazette
310
Niagara St.
PO
Box 549
Niagara
Falls, NY 14302
Niagara Falls Reporter
345 Third St.
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Lockport
Union Sun and Journal
459
S. Transit Rd.
Lockport,
NY 14094 |
The
Buffalo News
One
News Plaza
PO
Box 100
Buffalo,
NY 14240
Tonawanda
News
435
River Rd.
North
Tonawanda, NY 14120
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(letters-to-editor:
type, double space, sign name with home address and daytime telephone number)
We believe the
Falls at Niagara and the lower river gorge are international treasures, about
which the international community is entitled to voice its opinion regarding
preservation and reclamation. We welcome support not only from
residents of the Niagara Frontier, but from former residents and tourists,
those guests from all over the world who have enjoyed the natural environment
here at Niagara. Let us hear from you at niagaraheritage@aol.com.
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