By- KARENA WALTER

THOROLD — With a major battleground to its name, the City of Thorold is in negotiations to establish three new commemorative parks in conjunction with the anniversary of the War of 1812.

The city is currently in talks with AbitibiBowater to potentially lease land that was the surrender site for the Battle of Beaverdams.

The property, off Davis Rd., is unused land owned by Abitibi and could become a small commemorative park. Thorold council was told Tuesday night that, so far, negotiations have been favourable.

"I have my fingers crossed it will be very successful," said Mayor Ted Luciani, who has met with company representatives, along with members of the city's War of 1812 bicentennial committee.

Committee chair John Burtniak told councillors the Battle of Beaverdams is considered by some historians to be a major fight and a turning point in the war.

Thorold will be a major focus area for the anniversary because it's in the unusual position of having three significant War of 1812 sites.

Burtniak said the committee is currently working on a tentative park design for the Abitibi site, where Americans surrendered, and will come forward with a recommendation to council at a future time.

A second park is being proposed a short distance north of that site where some of the earliest engagements of the battle took place.

A report to council said St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., which owns the land, has agreed to lease it to the city.

 However, an environmental assessment has raised some concerns about the property and parties are trying to figure out what to do.

 The third proposed park would be at DeCew House, the site where Laura Secord's historic walk from Queenston ended. Although it's an informal park now, the committee would like it converted into a heritage park with restoration.

The city took over the house and land in 2010 from Ontario Power Generation, which also gave $20,000 for remedial work.

 On Tuesday, councillors voted to use $12,000 of that money to pay for restoring the house foundation.

 Besides working on securing the park lands, the Thorold committee is preparing a 75- to 100-page book about the Battle of Beaverdams, one of the least documented battles. The book aims to set the record straight on misinformation about the battle and will include the contribution of native fighters.

 Burtniak said the committee would like a permanent monument erected in Thorold to mark that native contribution.

 It's also designing a website for bicentennial events and working with the Friends of Laura Secord in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is organizing a commemorative walk.

 "This is an exciting development which has long-term implications for the tourism draw of Thorold," Burtniak said.

 The Battle of Beaverdams took place June 24, 1813, in northeast Thorold township. The committee wrote in a report to council that it was the only battle fought and won entirely by natives loyal to the Crown.

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