Supports Redevelopment Of “Sky Wheel” Up On Lands Next To Clifton Hill Instead
A News Release from the Niagara Parks Commission in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Posted September 15th, 2026 on Niagara At Large
More than 700 citizens attend a town hall meeting this past July to express their concern over plans to erect an amusement park-style ride on greenspace near the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontaro
A Brief Foreword Note from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – First, let me simply say Thank God that the Niagara Parks Commission, an agency created over a century ago to protect and preserve the natural grounds around the Falls (not to junk these lands up with amusement park rides), and Ontario’s Ford government finally came to their senses and ditched plans for a gargantuan ferris wheel on the beautiful old Queen Victory Park lands near the Horseshoe Falls.
What I find disappointing in reading the Niagara Parks note is 1) there is no real acknowledgment in the role Ontario’s Ford government played in pushing plans for this ride and 2) there was no recognition of the role countless numbers of citizens played in reaching out the Niagara Parks and the provincial government with their concerns about building anything that looked like a carnival ride in such a scenic, worlk-renown spot.
Standing at the podium at left, Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates at the town hall meeting he hosted last July, expressing his opposition to building a pian ferris wheel ride on world-renown green lands next to the Horseshoe Falls
At one point in early July, more than 700 Niagara area citizens filled a banquet hall at Club Italia in Niagara Falls for a town hall meeting hosted by Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates to express a resounding “NO’ to this ferris wheel plan and it is hard for this reporter to believe that there wasn’t at least one Niagara Parks representative at the meeting, monitoring what was being said.
At the very least, Niagara Parks must have been aware of it from stories in area newspapers and television news programs in the Greater Toronto Area.
It would have been good of Niagara Parks in its news release to at least give members of the public some credit for caring enough to express their concerns and to say something like; ‘Thank you to the public for reaching out on this matter. We took your views into serious consideration before making a final decision on this project.
I find that very few, if any government bodies, are willing to make any kind of a statement like that which may be one of the reasons why members of the public hold government in such low regard.
Now here is the News Release from the Niagara Parks Commission –
The Niagara Parks Commission has cancelled its Request for Proposals (RFP) process for a new observation wheel in Queen Victoria Park following a significant new private sector commitment to redevelop the existing Niagara SkyWheel (near Clifton Hill).Following the release of the RFP, Niagara Parks received a Letter of Intent from Harry Oakes, President and CEO of HOCO Entertainment, outlining plans for a major redevelopment of the Niagara SkyWheel, which has operated for more than 20 years and has established itself as a cornerstone of the Niagara Falls visitor experience.
The Sky Wheel overlooking the Falls near Clifton Hill. Controversial plans for a similar giant ferris wheel ride on Queen Victoria Park lands closer to Falls are now dead.
Since then, Mr. Oakes and HOCO Entertainment have developed a detailed business case for the proposed redevelopment and demonstrated that financing is in place to advance the project. The redevelopment will see the existing Niagara SkyWheel replaced with a new 250-foot Ferris wheel, making it the tallest Ferris wheel in Canada, along with improvements to the surrounding Clifton Hill plaza.
With the proposed SkyWheel redevelopment now supported by a business case and in the advanced planning stage, Niagara Parks has determined that there is a viable alternative to proceeding with a new observation wheel in Queen Victoria Park. As a result, the Commission has cancelled the RFP process.
Issued on December 15, 2025, the RFP for a new observation wheel in Queen Victoria Park was launched in alignment with the province’s Destination Niagara Strategy, which aims to double the number of visitors, extend length of stays, raise Niagara’s global profile and attract new private sector investment to the region.
A new observation wheel was proposed as a potential new tourism attraction supporting one of the strategy’s five key pillars. Niagara Parks is very pleased that this process has catalyzed a significant private sector investment from a well-established local business to redevelop the existing Niagara SkyWheel and deliver what will become the tallest observation wheel in Canada.
Niagara Parks also recognizes the leadership and strong support of the City of Niagara Falls and Mayor Jim Diodati in helping champion and move this major redevelopment forward.
Niagara Parks continues to advance strategic projects supporting the multibillion-dollar Destination Niagara Strategy, which aims to establish the region as a world-renowned tourism destination, support local businesses and call for new world-class attractions.
Quotes
“The Niagara Parks Commission remains committed to supporting the Province’s Destination Niagara Strategy by fostering investments that enhance the visitor experience and strengthen Niagara’s position as a world-class tourism destination. The Niagara SkyWheel attraction is a cherished part of the Niagara Falls experience and we commend Harry Oakes and HOCO Entertainment for investing in its future as a truly world-class attraction.” – David Adames, Niagara Parks CEO
“The major expansion of the Niagara SkyWheel represents an exciting investment in the future of Niagara Falls and Clifton Hill and a big step toward realizing the full potential of the Region, in alignment with the Destination Niagara Strategy. As the future largest observation wheel in Canada, it will create a landmark attraction that draws new visitors, supports local businesses and strengthens Niagara’s position as a world-class tourism destination.
“I look forward to this exciting new chapter and want to thank all our partners including the residents of Niagara for their support. Their pride in this community and commitment to welcoming visitors from around the world are a big part of what makes Niagara such a special place.” – Harry Oakes, President, HOCO Entertainment
To read a previously posted Niagara At Large news commentary on this issue, click on – Niagara Parks Slammed For Lack of Courage To Say ‘NO’ To Doug Ford Over Plan To Turn Greenspace Near Falls In To An Amusement Park | Niagara At Large
To read a related CBC story on this issue, click on – Plug pulled on Ford government’s giant ferris wheel planned for Niagara Falls, Ont. | CBC News
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 and by sharing the Niagara At Large site at www.niagaraatlarge.com with all of your friends and associates.
“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders
Niagara At Large 