December 13, 1999 Meeting Notes

1. Introductions & background on International Brownfield Exchange (IBE)

   Participants introduced themselves and described recent initiatives with which they have been involved. Gary Praetzel noted that Jim Glynn (Maid of the Mist) and Assemblymember Paul Tokasz are valuable contacts. John Sheffer explained that Assembymember Tokasz has $80,000 of State funding that can be appropriated to cultural tourism initiatives. Tokasz has asked a group of people to convene to discuss the implementation of cultural tourism initiatives (this group of 12 individuals has already met twice). Tokasz is also interested in meeting with Ontario’s Minister of Tourism.

   Beth Benson provided background on the International Brownfield Exchange Program and results of recent workshops. She indicated that what has emerged through work completed to date is and understanding that the brownfield agenda is no longer scientific and technical, instead it needs to be embraced in a design, development and new institutional frameworks. She suggested that a binational parks symposium could be a way of positioning the brownfields work while at the same time boosting local initiatives and strategic plans. The IBE program has some seed money from Environment Canada, the EPA and Niagara Parks Commission to help plan the symposium.

2. Roundtable Discussion

   The group generated the following list of benefits of an international park from lake to lake:

• attracts capital to a depressed region
• economic benefits derived from tourism
• transportation opportunities (will help attract investment)
• promotes tourism and knowledge-based industries
• improves "quality of life" i.e. why people as residents choose to be in the Niagara region. Quality of life influences sustainable development. If things are done right, quality of life follows.
• benefits of technology and communications
• promotes regional coordination and cooperation
• helps to attract visitors but also keep residents (and our children) in the region
• creates cities in a park
• improves environmental quality
• creates place of experience
• promotes international connection (Toronto-Buffalo/Golden Horseshoe)
• the River is short, there is a beginning and an end -- project is doable
• will help to diversify the region with parks, industrial and commercial areas, neighborhoods...
• provides an institutional framework.

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