5 Hamilton Parks Getting Much-Needed TLC

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Published September 24, 2019 at 3:18 pm

Parks are the heart of cities and in Hamilton, we have some beauties.

These parks become the background of the scenes of our childhoods and our children’s.

Parks are the heart of cities and in Hamilton, we have some beauties.

These parks become the background of the scenes of our childhoods and our children’s.

It’s inevitable that after decades of use and exposure to the elements they need a little tidying up or, in some case, a complete facelift and remodelling.

Here’s a list of 5 local parks that are getting some much-needed TLC in the near future.


5. Andrew Warburton Memorial Park

This park, located in the East End, is currently home to an ageing playground, wading pool and spray pad and basketball court. The city is proposing to replace the wading pool and spray pad with a larger spray pad or a new wading pool/spray pad combo as well as replacing the basketball court with a new multi-use court (for basketball and ball-hockey) or another park amenity. They also propose some new pathways, a community garden and some aesthetic upgrades. This project is currently in the public consultation phase, with a detailed plan expected in 2020 and construction slated to begin sometime in 2021.


4. Meadowlands community park

Meadowlands Community Park has been pinpointed as a park that would be well served by a new spray pad to serve the larger Ancaster community. A large shade structure is also intended to be included as part of this project. This is still in the planning stages but it seems the new park developments will be ready to use by Summer 2020.


3. Central Park

It seems this park redevelopment has been in the works for a number of years now. Discussions about coming up with a plan started back in 2014. This gorgeous park has a lot to offer as it stands, but it could use a little love. The city has identified that a dog park could be in the works, as well as a community garden depending on volunteer involvement. They’ve also proposed upgrading the splash pad, adding more walkways, sun shelters and a soccer field.


2. H.A.A.A Grounds

The Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds known as H.A.A.A. is located within the Kirkendall Neighborhood on the north side of Charlton Avenue West, just east of Locke Street. It’s home to the Hamilton Tennis Club. It has been designated as a Cultural Heritage Landscape. The grounds was once home to the Hamilton Tigers football club from 1872 to 1949 who, in 1950, became the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The site is also home to the beautiful Hobbit-house style H.A.A.A. fieldhouse built circa 1930, which is currently the operational centre of the Hamilton Hurricanes and Ironmen football clubs. This project too is in the early stages of development. So early, in fact, that there isn’t a plan yet. At a public meeting last year, a splash pad was one item that the public wanted to see added to the park.


1. Sam Lawrence Park

This gorgeous park located at the top of the Jolley Cut. It is best known for its panoramic views of the Lower City, the Dundas Valley, and Lake Ontario. Many of Sam Lawrence Park’s existing features are in decline due to age, weathering, slope movements and vandalism and are in need of an upgrade. This project is in the early stages of public consultations. In fact, they’ve been getting feedback from Concession Streetfest attendees and released the results of a user survey in early August. Whatever plan they come up with, there’s one thing they can’t improve upon: the view.

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