The economic impact on the NPC itself has also been significant. For the third consecutive year we had record attendance and revenues. The overall impact of our visitors climbed 17 percent last year, up to $590 million. The NPC paid almost $1 million in grants in-lieu-of-taxes, up $233,000. Our own employment is at 1,700 people and growing. All of this growth means we have more revenue than ever before to reinvest in the parks, but the challenges we face are also greater than before. We are leaving nothing to chance. Extensive planning is being conducted. Preservation and “greening” remains a cornerstone of planning.

As we proceed to plan for rapid growth, we maintain a steadfast commitment to two principles. First, we are committed to balance development pressures with equal attention to preservation and stewardship of our park. Second, we will endeavor to give visitors a quality experience.

It is clear, as we proceed with planning, that we have the opportunity to develop more attractions and — at the same time — to develop and preserve more parkland. One doesn’t have to come at the expense of the other. Indeed, one helps us maximize the other. The more revenue we generate, the more money we can channel into conservation. The wherewithal to deal with the impacts of growth in tourism comes from growth in tourism itself.

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This planning must be done cooperatively. We are working to maintain partnerships with the City, the Region, developers, and others. We are taking into consideration all the available resources, involving all the relevant partners in a peer-review process, and charting a tourism planning strategy for a challenging future. Fulfilling the mandate includes initiatives such as:

1. A Moraine Master Plan for management, maintenance and rehabilitation of the area above Queen Victoria Park. It will deal with development pressures in the area, limit geological instability, control erosion, increase regeneration, and assure accessibility.

2. The Oak Savanna Project to revitalize and protect the last remaining stand of Chinquapin Oak Savanna — an endangered species that once made up the dominant landscape of the present day.

3. Reclamation of the Table Rock Parking lot and alternate provisions for bus parking and transportation.

4. Renovation of the Botanical Garden, including revamping of the gardens, and reconstruction of the fire pond to include a small waterfall and aeration.

5. Designation as a Globally Significant birding area of the entire Niagara River corridor from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario in 1996 to provide a safe haven for migrating birds. A pair of Peregrine Falcons nested on a narrow ledge near the Horseshoe Falls, bred, and returned. Nineteen species of gull also make their home in the area.

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