* Members of the public are invited to share their knowledge, stories and/or personal connections to Oak Hall and Queen Victoria Place
* Data collected from online surveys will be used to inform future planning for the sites
A News Release from Ontario’s Niagara Parks Commission
Posted March 1st, 2023 on Niagara At Large
Niagara Falls, Ontario – Niagara Parks has launched a public engagement exercise to gain knowledge and input about two of its heritage buildings in Niagara Falls, Oak Hall and Queen Victoria Place, through the use of a digital survey available on its website.
A vintage photo of Niagara Parks’ Oak Hall. Photo courtesy of Niagara Parks Commission
Members of the public are invited to visit niagaraparks.com/heritagesurvey to complete a short survey about their knowledge of Oak Hall and Queen Victoria Place. As part of Niagara Parks’ heritage planning process, the survey results will then be incorporated into the development of heritage assessments for the buildings, which both require capital investment.
Inside Oak Hall. Photo courtesy of Niagara Parks Commission
Oak Hall has stood on a hill overlooking the Niagara River for over 200 years. Originally built by the Clark family, the home has been expanded by a series of owners, including Sir Harry Oakes, the well-known Canadian businessman who bought the home in 1924.
The Oakes family sold the home to Niagara Parks in 1959 and it became the headquarters of the Niagara Parks Commission in 1982.
Constructed in 1904, Queen Victoria Place has an established presence within the core area of Queen Victoria Park, sitting directly across from the Falls, just north of Table Rock and nestled at the foot of Murray Hill below the Fallsview tourism district.
Queen Victoria Place as it looks today, Photo courtesy of Niagara Parks Commission
The building features a distinctive copper roof and walls of boulder stones that came from the riverbed just south of the Horseshoe Falls. The building has served as a former residence of the Commissioners of Niagara Parks, a popular dance hall and today houses a restaurant, retail store and coffee shop.
The survey questions will prompt members of the public to share their knowledge, stories and/or personal connections to these buildings, as well as their opinions on their heritage value. The results of the survey will assist Niagara Parks in assessing the historical significance of both Oak Hall and Queen Victoria Place, which will guide the future planning for both sites.
To view the webpage and complete the survey, please visit niagaraparks.com/heritagesurvey<https://click.agilitypr.delivery/ls/click?upn=gwl1xlTUDC887yk79rCWy-2BZUo-2FH3AFCFqDspkmkOO8oV9pdrjwUZhQLM-2FEm-2FMiIKxteg9N5D3-2BYNFLdfWdHwSg-3D-3DEFwM_T3C9ndn461-2BC5zK8czUXE0DNpquXneBBoSIpGKShAn0Zwv8Bzx2S0X4bXynoqsnDvr7vnOavdelwjfOluT90BIhfg4SaWJB7h1sxO7kSy2T93bTgYojlZDtKQaDWdGVoV-2BIXuRZIBWI51cF4DhhdvmlPuPLhDByapVZr9C4hrtVx4LpTj4-2BW3r4SU-2FbW9iMt-2F3WWEEitODyo05jyPgiwMG27hQhfRxcerC3bi1cTKZhUB1ungCOUbR1xh6mDS-2F57Mwx02jM8Pf23m9us0OgtpEcka9wxSi8hFj0u8tu5cp9jrmP5MtEOZCJdm617bWwth2BlUH5x2YNmQf9aaveZT2pf4bEGhmzAtsHmMSgIDKqIuvRngpRSoqczt5yNKMVCdZKvOeoUE5Kxg6sQR3KG0w-3D-3D>
About Niagara Parks – Since its establishment in 1885, Niagara Parks has remained a self-financed agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, entrusted to preserve and protect the land surrounding Niagara Falls and the Niagara River.
Today, Niagara Parks boasts gardens, a horticulture school, recreation, golf courses, restaurants, heritage and historic sites, gift shops and, of course, Niagara Falls. In short, natural landscapes, history, family fun, hiking, culinary delights, attractions and adventure.
For all inquiries, please contact us at: cgiles@niagaraparks.com
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