Night is soon to become day on Frederick Law Olmsted's Goat Island preserve as enormous light poles are presently being installed on Goat Island's south parking lots, as part of the Niagara Falls State Park "Landscape Improvements" plan. Of course, Olmsted wanted Goat Island to be forested, and local residents have long been at a loss to understand why a sprawling parking lot is necessary at this scenic location, located far from attractions on the other end of the island. Rarely are more than a handful of vehicles parked in this lot, even during the height of the tourist season. On the other hand, two large Delaware North trucks have been parked here for several weeks. When State Parks is done, this formerly scenic area will be virtually indistinguishable from a Walmart parking lot. Gov. Cuomo, Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey and Regional Director Mark Thomas are the government officials most responsible for this affront to our heritage, not to mention good taste, with the tacit approval of local politicians unfortunately too numerous to list here. |