Popular tugboat park playground needing repairs closes for a year in Hamilton

With equipment that needs to be replaced, part of the popular Pier 4 Park with its distinctive tugboat structure is closed until the construction of a new playground is finished late next year in Hamilton.

The City of Hamilton said the closure affects the Pier 4 Park tugboat play structure and the junior playground for children aged 18 months to five years old.

“The spray pad and playground equipment are nearing the end of their lifecycle and need to be replaced,” the City wrote on its website.

The tugboat play structure, a hollowed-out steel boat filled with rubber surfacing, “is in disrepair and needs to be refurbished,” it added.

Along with its junior play structure, an accessible senior play structure for kids aged five to 12 years old is connected to the tugboat. The playground also has stand-alone monkey bars, a bouncy toy, a swing set and a spray pad.

Pier 4 Park is located east of Bayfront Park. It has a parking lot, a washroom building, multi-use trails, looped pathways, SoBi bike stations, a beach, a pier boardwalk with a gazebo structure, a breakwater, a drinking fountain, seating areas, lighting, shade trees and a large open grass area.

The City said the new playground design takes into account public input. The new playground design has features such as an ornamental garden, climbing equipment, accessible entry, lookout patio, shade structure and bike parking.

The City plans construction from July to November of next year.

COURTESY OF CITY OF HAMILTON