“Our entire community benefits with this significant shoreline acquisition, one more step in Fort Erie’s efforts to protect and preserve our natural heritage.” – Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop
News from the Town of Fort Erie in Niagara, Ontario
Posted by Niagara At Large on August 25th, 2023
FORT ERIE, Ontario – Mayor Redekop and Fort Erie Council are thrilled to announce that Fred Costabile of 5001997 Ontario Inc. has donated 22 acres of riparian lands east of Waverly Beach Park to the Town of Fort Erie for conservation and public use.
Inside the tree canopy of Waverly Woods in Fort Erie, Ontario, near the shores of Lake Erie. It appears that at lease some of these wooded lands are being donated to the Town for preservation. Photo by Doug Draper, Niagara At Large
The Transfer of title to the lands was registered on August 14, 2023. Access to the Lake Erie shoreline is a significant issue in Fort Erie. This acquisition of waterfront lands will add to the inventory of Lake Erie properties owned by the Town.
In May 2022, an environmentally friendly settlement regarding the Harbourtown Development was reached between the developer and Fort Erie Community Voices.
The settlement included an increase in environmentally protected lands while creating three vernal ponds for amphibian breeding.
The additional 22 acres of riparian lands will help expand and preserve the environmentally protected areas connected with Waverly Beach Park. This donation will protect part of our significant natural sites for wildlife to prosper and residents to enjoy.
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Town of Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop
“Mr. Costabile’s donation will safeguard lands and the shoreline east of Waverly Beach Park. Council is very grateful for this generous and remarkable gift of environmentally significant lands along the Lake Erie shore, which will increase the environmentally protected lands in the Waverly Beach area and bring the twenty-two acres into public ownership.
“Our entire community benefits with this significant shoreline acquisition, one more step in Fort Erie’s efforts to protect and preserve our natural heritage.” said Mayor Wayne Redekop
More news on this from Niagara At Large –
Community Voices of Fort Erie leader Marcie Jacklin
For several years, a large group of Fort Erie citizens, known as Community Voices of Fort Erie, has been fighting to keep the Waverly Woods area, east of Waverly Beach Park, from being clear cut to make way for a multi-storey condominium overlooking Lake Erie.
Marcie Jacklin, a Fort Erie resident and president of the Community Voices group, told Niagara At Large this August 25th that news that the Town of Fort Erie will take jurisdiction over 22 acres of the Waverly Woods forest lands is “another step forward” in saving them as a natural resources and habitat for wildlife
Jacklin added that the Town of Fort Erie is also reportedly moving forward on a “strategic management plan” for the Waverly Woods area and the citizens in her group look forward to having input in its development to ensure as much of the area will be protected as possible.
To read more on efforts to save Waverly Woods, click on – https://niagaraatlarge.com/2022/05/13/settlement-has-been-reached-in-waverly-woods-development-plans-in-fort-erie/
NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.
“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders
Niagara At Large 
This week I was searching for Monarch caterpillars to raise. Sadly this year I have only 7 when I normally have 30 to 50. There is a ton of milkweed on one particular plot on the east end of Waverly, apparently set for development. It would be nice if it could be left alone….one tiny lot…to help save an endangered species, rather than lost for profit.
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Thank-you always Marcie, and thank-you Doug for continuing to cover important environmental and conservation issues. We face ongoing development threats on both sides of the border and this is a really significant win for the environment and for the people of our region and planet.
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