- Annual prescribed burn program will take place on selected dates from April through the end of May across Niagara Parks sites
- Since 2008, prescribed burns have been used to help restore and maintain native prairie and savannah habitat
- For more information about Niagara Parks’ environmental stewardship and invasive species management, visit niagaraparks.com/stewardship
Niagara Falls, ON – Niagara Parks will carry out its annual prescribed burn program for the 2026 season, using carefully planned and controlled fire to manage several natural areas as part of its ongoing environmental stewardship efforts. Burns will take place on select dates from April through May, with exact timing dependent on weather conditions and site readiness.
The following sites have been identified for the 2026 program:
- Chippawa Battlefield
- Legacy Garden at the Botanical Gardens
- Lilac Garden Prairie
- Paradise Grove
- South Plains
- Whirlpool Golf Course and Whirlpool Slope
- Legends on the Niagara Golf Course
For more than a decade, prescribed burns have been a key component of Niagara Parks’ environmental stewardship efforts. Controlled burns help promote the growth of native prairie grasses and wildflowers, return nutrients to the soil and reduce invasive and non‑native species that threaten biodiversity.
In 2025, Niagara Parks conducted prescribed burns across more than 38.5 hectares of land along the Niagara River corridor to support native plant regeneration and long‑term habitat health.
Environmental Stewardship at Niagara Parks
Stewardship of the natural environment has always been a central element of Niagara Parks’ mandate and operations. Niagara Parks continuously seeks innovative and sustainable solutions to minimize its environmental footprint. Today, invasive species present some of the most pressing and potentially destructive threats to Ontario’s natural environment and indigenous wildlife. While new invasive threats can arrive at any time, Niagara Parks is focused on fighting the insects and plants that pose the most immediate and significant threats.
For more information on Niagara Parks’ invasive species management, visit niagaraparks.com/stewardship.
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