§ 39.01 Legislative findings and intent. The Niagara River corridor is\nof unique ecological, cultural and economic importance to western New\nYork connecting Lake Erie and Lake Ontario communities and ecologies.\nThis corridor has played an important role in the history of the Niagara\nFrontier and it can and should continue to define the western New York\nexperience into the twenty-first century. Niagara Falls is a National\nNatural Landmark under state stewardship for more than a century that\ndraws more than fourteen million visitors from throughout the world to\nthe region each year. The cities of Niagara Falls and Buffalo are at the\nheart of the river corridor where much of their waterfront has in the\npast been dedicated to industrial uses. During the last few decades\nthose uses have begun to wane and there is now an opportunity to\nredefine the waterfront in a way that creates a balance of economic\ninterests with a welcoming waterfront environment. For more than a\ncentury there have been those who have expressed a vision for the\nNiagara river corridor of a necklace of open space and conservation\nareas spread along the river. With many areas no longer being used for\nheavy industry it is now time to complete that vision. Many areas have\nestablished parks along the corridor including eleven state parks and\nfourteen local parks. New York state's only National Scenic Byway, the\nSeaway Trail, runs through the entire corridor. It is the intent of the\nlegislature to establish the Niagara river greenway commission as a\ncooperative regional organization established to work with participating\nstate agencies, municipalities, organizations and residents in order to\nimplement or cause to be implemented a linear system of parks and\nconservation areas that will, consistent with the purpose of the\ncommission as set forth in this article, redefine the Niagara riverfront\nby increasing landside access to the river; creating complementary\naccess to the greenway from the river; augmenting economic\nrevitalization efforts, and celebrating the region's industrial\nheritage.\n
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