Town parks are an important part of the community fabric and their names contribute to creating a sense of place, community, and identity. Park names should be considered with care and purpose, especially when a change in park name is proposed - as the tradition and continuity of existing park names can be embedded in the community and its values.

From time to time, the Town of Fort Erie receives requests to name or rename a Town park. In such cases, the Town of Fort Erie Park Naming Policy provides a clear process and criteria for assessing the appropriateness of proposed names. This process includes the submission of an application, consultation with the community, and Council approval.

Proposed park names are evaluated, in part, based upon the uniqueness of the name and its geographical, historical, or cultural relevance to the community. A park name shall portray a strong positive image of the Town and shall not be perceived as derogatory or discriminatory in any way.

Community consultation is an essential consideration when assessing a proposed park name. The community and direct park stakeholders will be notified of the proposed park name and provided 30 days to provide comments and feedback.

The information and opinions expressed in such applications are those of the applicant. They do not reflect the views or research of Town of Fort Erie staff, and are not verified for completeness or accuracy. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the applicant.

Further information about the Fort Erie Park Naming Policy and Application can be found on the sidebar of this Let's Talk Fort Erie page.



About Snake Hill:

The information within this “About Snake Hill” tab is prepared by Town of Fort Erie staff. The proposed park is located at on Lakeshore Road between Albert Street and Adelaide Street.

Snake Hill is an unofficial name that has sometimes been used to refer to the area at the end of Albert Street. A large sand dune used to exist here. This place has connections to Indigenous history, natural history, military history, Black history, social history, transportation history, and archaeology as described below.

Archaeological discoveries linked to the Snake Hill site date back to at least 1800 BC. These items point to Indigenous people using this area as a source of stone for their tools and weapons. Another archaeological find here points to a 600-year-old Iroquoian fishing camp. In the early 1900s an archaeologist observed what he described as “… a village site and possibly a mound at the point known as Snake Hill.”

The earliest known reference to snakes in this area can be traced to 1767. Captain Jonathan Carver sailed the Great Lakes and his journal includes five pages describing the abundance of snakes including the following excerpt: “The Sand about Lake Erie is very good … and Nothing can make it so disagreeable as the multiplicity of Snakes of several sorts the most numerous is the water snakes … they are frequently seen in the middle of the Day Laying Coil … that in many Places the[y] Cover the water … that the whole Surface of the water for some distance appear[s] quite Black. [T]hese water snakes when grown are about as Large … as a man’s ankle and are about two feet and half in Length”. The commonly used name of Snake Hill can be linked to the abundance of snakes noted in this 1767 journal.

This area was part of the British military post, Fort Erie, at the turn of the 19th century. During the War of 1812 a significant battle took place at Snake Hill. In August 1814 hundreds of British soldiers were wounded or killed as they attempted to recapture the fort and this hill which had been occupied by the American army. The Americans were successful defending their hold during this battle, although they ultimately withdrew from the fort in November.

In the mid 1800s, a considerable number of Black settlers established a colony here known as the Snake Hill Settlement. Oral history recollections include the large camp meetings near this settlement that attracted visitors from both sides of the border.

In the late 1800s, the area to the west of Snake Hill was known as Snake Hill Grove and was a popular picnic spot. This evolved into Erie Beach Amusement Park which was serviced by a train that brought people to the park from the ferry landing near Bertie Street. That train was locally known as the Snake Hill and Pacific Railroad.

In 1987, archaeologists discovered 28 American soldiers who were buried near the field hospital at Snake Hill during the War of 1812. Their remains were exhumed and repatriated to the New York State Military Burial Ground in Bath, New York.

Snake Hill Parkette Renaming Application:

The Town of Fort Erie has received an application to name the new park at the end of Albert Street, Snake Hill Parkette. The application, as submitted to the Town, is provided as a link in the Document sidebar includes the application form and supporting documentation.

The information and opinions expressed in this application are those of the applicant. They do not reflect the views or research of Town of Fort Erie staff, and have not been verified for completeness or accuracy. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the applicant.

Community Input:

You are invited to provide your feedback relative to the naming of Snake Hill Parkette by emailing your comments directly to the Town staff contacts (see sidebar). The community consultation period will be open until March 29th. Comments received after March 29th will not be considered.



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