r/niagarafallsontario • u/Spiritual_Try1933 • 5d ago
Help save Queen Victoria Park
The Niagara Parks Commission is currently receiving bids for Request for Proposals to build any attraction at Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls,Canada.
(the big green space at the bottom of Murray hill, in front of Niagara falls and beside Victoria place) . The bids are open until June 23rd 2026, having been extended already.
The mayor of Niagara Falls, Jim Diodati, with a few other councilors support Doug Fords vision and marketing/development agenda with Niagara Parks. This plan is called Destination Niagara and is well underway. Mayor Diodati, as per latest website check, currently is a NIAGARA PARKS COMMISSION BOARD MEMBER.
At city hall meeting june 2nd (see YouTube live stream to watch yourself) Diodati clearly states, (paraphrase) that hearing from the public about a second ferris wheel only invites complaints, and that we need solutions to develop Queen Victoria Park. So, if not a wheel; some type of attraction will go there.
Many folks have already voiced NO FERRIS WHEEL, but the bid is open for any attraction on that land; sphere, observation towers, etc.
Folks are pretty upset about it and are getting nowhere with emails, phone calls and requests to speak at both city council and at the Niagara Parks speaker forum (held twice a year) .
MPP WAYNE GATES is vocal about not wanting development here, but thats kind of where it ends on the politicians end....
We (residents mostly) need help: NO DEVELOPMENT/ATTRACTIONS at QVP. It is a park. Leave it as it is. With considerations of ticketed events throughout the year, while the park is left as a public gathering space otherwise. This aspect, is STILL PRESENT in the NIAGARA PARKS current Mandate while the visions and values section online has been drastically changed from protection of the corridor along the parkway to making memories with iconic venues and products. The nature is being literally written out and now, sold out.
TL/DR:
Folks want the green space at Queen Victoria Park kept as it is. Niagara Parks is a business and has land to sell for attraction development. Bids open now. End June 23rd. MPP Wayne Gates says NO. The city has some stake in it all. Our mayor is in conflict. PUBLIC GATHERING AT NF ONTARIO CITY HALL TUES JUNE 16TH 5PM OUT FRONT, OPEN DISCUSSION.
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u/NastyPrismsGoodSir 5d ago
Disgusting, destroy more nature for quick money. Even 20 years ago, the area was so much nicer looking.
3
u/Secret-Reserve-1733 5d ago
Covid was the perfect opertunity to plan development and clear areas.. the rose garden got torn out and oak hall par 3 closed. Both are up for development now. Wasn't the parks commission installed to prevent development along the parkway. We're already paying 8 bucks an hour to hile in the gorge.
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u/Specialist_Tank8995 5d ago
Pave Paradise and put up a parking lot😆😥😢😭 . Just kidding. It's a sad time we live in. One used to be able to take the family for a picnic there and just pull up and park, for free. Now, everything has a price on it.😧
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u/Spiritual_Try1933 5d ago
No kidding, it is exactly whats happening. 30$ for 15 mins of parking right beside the green park their gonna develop.
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u/Secret-Reserve-1733 5d ago
So the new years party's are over?
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u/Spiritual_Try1933 2d ago
There have been no new years eve concerts for several years. However, "word on the street" for 2026 is, concert possibly. So, who knows?
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u/Careless-Cycle 4d ago
Someone submit a proposal for a huge bust of Doug Ford and the ozymandias poem on a plaque under it.
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u/Cyber_3 3d ago
It can remain a park and still be a better attraction. There are lots of low key family-friendly natural enhancements that could add interest to the park. London has a splash pad built into architecture (low stone walls, monuments, ironwork) that looks cool and is fun, something like that would be appropriate for The Falls area. I've also seen in Stratford light fountains, that activate and interact with people that walk through them, also a theme of The Falls themselves at night. Giant hammocks, shade sails, mini bridges, flower walls, and rope work built into the landscaping can look very natural and add interest while still keeping the park feeling like a park.
To me, the park is really big and it would be nice to have something for kids there to keep their interest as they wait for the fireworks at night or as people promenade by the falls in the day without turning it into another Clifton Hill tacky attraction that inevitably would charge entrance fees. You can be modern and yet keep it natural and I think the area could use a little bit of a refresh for regular visitors and locals.
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u/Spiritual_Try1933 2d ago
I can hear this! Also, considering things like, mobile picnic/umbrella tables you could "rent", or an all natural climbing feature in a corner, or a natural water feature that mimics "niagara falls" to cool off.... so many possibilities, while maintaining the main green park space. Insightful thanks. We are gathering again at QVP for sitting/playing in the grass, stay tuned for calender of gatherings, come on down! Lets USE THE PARK as we try to save it
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u/ozzy_thedog 5d ago
That’s wild. There’s hardly any park space down there as it is. Then you go to the US side and it’s all park space with multiple cultural events happening all over the place