The Fort Erie Race Track might become the centerpiece of a major tourist attraction.
With developer Carl Paladino the most visible of the track owners since taking over last year, the owners are working with the regional government on a $284 million project on land which is part of the track. The Regional Council has now started the process for some incentives to go forward.
Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop says this might bring back the slot machines which were at the race track.
"This is an opportunity for us to say to the province, we've got the motor speedway, we've got the race track, we've got the marina. We've got a lot of activity in Fort Erie now," Redekop said.
"We've got the potential to attract a lot of people and we should have the slots back. There's no reason why they were taken out and there is every reason why they should be returned."
When the slot machines were running at the race track, they were spinning off millions of dollars into the town treasury. There was a bitter fight with the Ontario government when the slots were closed. Redekop says with the development plan including two-hotels, an indoor water park and a large apartment building, they would bring more people to the town, the race track and the slot machines.