Niagara Parks has announced the reopening of the Niagara River Recreation Trail after the completion of major shoreline protection improvements. This is a “major milestone” in Niagara Parks’ multi-year project to rebuild and restore the Fort Erie Breakwall after it sustained significant damage from extreme weather events in recent years.
The Fort Erie Breakwall extends about two kilometres north from Old Fort Erie beyond the Peace Bridge and helps preserve shoreline, parkland, and recreational trails where Fort Erie flows into the Niagara River. It was originally constructed in the mid-1900s.
Thus far, Niagara Parks has spent more than $7.1 million to replace 1.2 kilometres, or roughly half, of the breakwall, as well as adding 568 metres of additional shoreline improvements to protect the infrastructure from future damage. Niagara Parks worked with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which reviewed and approved the project.
According to Niagara Parks, this is part of a larger effort to “strengthen the shoreline, adjacent parkland and recreational trails against the impacts of severe weather, erosion and high-water events.”
The improvements began in 2023 and were the result of recommendations from a coastal engineering firm following a 2019 ice wall event, which damaged multiple sections of the breakwall and underscored the need for a stronger shoreline.
The project is seen as a larger part of Niagara Parks’ long-term Shoreline Protection Strategy, which was launched back in 2025.
For this specific project, in-water armour stone was installed to help protect the repaired breakwall from future wave and ice damage. It also supports fish habitat by reducing near-shore water velocity.
A new foundation system was installed and concrete sections were also replaced.
In addition to shoreline protection work, Niagara Parks completed improvements to 670 metres of the Niagara River Recreation Trail, which included the relocation of 250 metres of trail to higher ground, closer to Niagara Parkway, to help reduce the impacts of flooding and severe weather, as well as regrading and reconstructing 420 metres of low-lying trail that was prone to water damage.
While the trail has reopened, work has not yet been competed on the full Breakwall project. All remaining work is expected to be completed by the end of next month.
All of this, according to Niagara Parks, will “help preserve public access to one of Fort Erie’s most scenic waterfront areas.”
Jay Goldberg is the Canadian Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center. He previously served as the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
