Reporter Calls on State Park to Restore Public Access to All of Three Sisters Islands

The Niagara Falls Reporter has calculated that the public lost about 80 percent of its public access to Three Sisters Islands in the Niagara Falls State Park, following the $2.1 million "improvement" of the islands by state parks.

Most of Three Sisters Islands have been fenced off, where once the entire islands where available to the public.

Before the "improvements," for some 125 years, the public could wander through wooded paths and explore the pristine islands, nestled in the Niagara River amid the rapids.

Now there is only a straight path on stone pavers., fenced on either side.

Because the old paths were not wide, and weaved throughout the islands, connected by bridges, there was a sense of adventure and exploration.

Today visitors to Three Sisters Islands can walk only on a narrow paved path on incongruous pavers. On either side the visitor is hemmed in by fences, something new to the islands and for those who loved Three Sisters, a heart rendering sight.

You can't wander to the left or right; you cannot walk up to the shore and touch the water; or sit beside babbling brooks between the islands.

At one time you could spend hours here.

Before there were winding trails and narrow hideaways, one was on the verge of excitement, of discovery and exploration every time one visited Three Sisters Islands.

Now you are confined to pavement.

Surrounded by fences.

Great scenic locations have been fenced off with danger signs.

The public lost its right of access to the islands.

Suddenly.

As part of so-called park improvements.

The Reporter is not aware of any deaths or accidents at Three Sisters over the last century.

The Reporter is calling for the state park to take down the fencing and restore public access to the entirety of Three Sisters Islands.

Once people were permitted to explore all of the Three Sisters Islands. Now they are confined to only the (white) path shown on this aerial picture. The straight stone path takes only a few minutes coming and going.

All of the scenes on the left are now illegal on Three Sisters Islands and people are now forced to walk along narrow stone paths, fenced on either side. After 125 years, the people are no longer allowed to explore the Islands.

Even the stones are fenced off.