The Niagara Parks Commission was established in 1885 to steward the lands and buildings immediately surrounding the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The area, which is now known as Queen Victoria Park, encompassed just 62.2 hectares (154 acres). In our long history we’ve grown to own and maintain over 1,720 hectares (4,250 acres) of parkland along the entire length of the Niagara River, stretching 53 km (36 miles) from Fort Erie in the south to Niagara-on-the-Lake in the north. We are set up like a city within a city, with our own police services, road maintenance, waste collection and all other services needed to sustain our extensive operations. During the height of the tourist season, Niagara Parks employs over 1,700 staff: approximately 300 full-time and 1,400 seasonal hires. Niagara Parks receives no government financing – we raise our own revenues through gift shops, golf courses, restaurants, attractions and parking lots.