USA Niagara Development Corp. (USAN), in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York Power Authority, has issued a Request for Proposals regarding the establishment, operation and maintenance of a programme of outdoor recreation activities and their associated facilities.
This could potentially include re-imagining of the Niagara Gorge Discovery Centre as a unique outfitting and interpretative hub offering food and beverage as well as educating visitors and preparing them for activities in the gorge.
Other facilities might include one or more ‘grand lodge’ or heritage inn to serve as centralised nodes for the provision of outdoor recreation services, gear rental and food/beverage, as well as to provide limited overnight lodging facilities.
The incorporation of adventure attractions such as zip-lines is also being considered, provided that they are sensitively sited within the natural landscape.
The entire project area encompasses roughly 11 miles along the New York state-owned upper and lower Niagara River and Niagara Falls, and includes four state parks.
The overall intention is to boost tourism, extend visitors’ dwell time in the City of Niagara Falls and enhance the quality of life for local residents.
According to USAN President, Christopher J. Schoepflin, the project is not just to increase stay and spend, but also to give visitors ‘the most authentic experience at Niagara’.
Interested parties are being asked to present feasible concepts for the entire 11-mile project area, although components of a programme may be phased in over time.