What's In a Name? Not Robert Moses

Local officials in the area of Niagara Falls in New York say the name Robert Moses is a detriment to the local tourism industry—so they're removing his name from a local parkway.

1 minute read

March 23, 2016, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Robert Moses Parkway

Andy Arthur / Flickr

The New York State Legislature approved a bill earlier this month that changes the name of the Robert Moses Parkway in Niagara County, reports Bill Mahoney.

Republican state Sen. Rob Ortt sponsored the bill, which passed unanimously with no debate earlier this month. Ortt is quoted in the article explaining the reasoning behind removing Moses's name from the parkway.

I think from a tourism standpoint a lot of people felt that 'Robert Moses Parkway' didn’t really say anything about Niagara or Niagara County or anything about the area…. And it was a name that a lot of people today, maybe driving the parkway, don’t know who that is or why it’s important to the area. And while there’s certainly a significance there, I think the feeling was, amongst the localities, that changing the name to the Niagara Scenic Parkway is more in line with what we’re trying to promote, which is Niagara and Niagara County and Niagara Falls.

The parkway joins a growing list of projects from the Moses era getting new names, along with what Mahoney describes as a "broader effort to resist naming government holdings after living figures." 

[Updated March 23, 2016] New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a $40 million plan to remove two miles of the Robert Moses Parkway earlier this week. An article by Nancy Fischer has more.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 in Politico New York

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A painted bus lane in NYC.

NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades

The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.

5 hours ago - NYC Streetsblog

A woman looks at a utility bill.

'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide

Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.

6 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

A person scuba diving in a coral reef off Guam.

Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies

International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.

7 hours ago - Grist