Fisherman's Park
The Raymond J. Klimek Fishermen's Park was created on the shore of the Niagara River in the 1970's on a former dumpsite remaining from decades of operation there of Tonawanda Iron Works. The River Road location was also the site of the first log tavern in the city in 1810, built by Garrett VanSlyke. The plaque in the park states that it was dedicated in memory of Raymond J. Klimek "for his foresight and determination in creating a park and fishing pier for the people of North Tonawanda in September 1978 during Mayor Edward S. Wiater's term in office." The Seabees monument was dedicated there in June 1996. The Seabees are the Navy’s construction battalion.
The Marine Corps. Monument, a project of the Conrad Kania Detachment of the Marine Corps. League, is also located in this park. It features a 3-sided wall of names of Marines, both living and dead, with room for more than 5,000. The detachment was named for the first Marine from the Twin Cities to die in World War II. Kania fell in combat on Guadalcanal.
It was through the dedicated efforts of the Seabees detachment from North Tonawanda as well that a 3-mile section of River Road was designated in July 2003 by the State Legislature as “ North Tonawanda POW-MIA Memorial Highway.”
 |
|---|
Fisherman's Park, an idyllic view of the Niagara River. Click HERE to view our section on the Tonawanda Iron & Steel Company, as their facility was once located here. This park is also on the site of a log tavern built by Joshua Pettit in 1810, one of the City's earliest structures. |