The Confederation Beach Park strategy to create a sports facility for the public scored with Hamilton politicians.
The first phase of what is a $40.7million in public funding in an implementation strategy over the next 20 years for the 93-hectare park involves $3 million to be spent next year creating a regulation cricket pitch, 12 pickleball courts, parking lot, administrative building, and washrooms.
The preliminary cost for the sports complex, which also includes a natural area, and soccer fields, is about $7 million, according to the Confederation Park Master Plan Review that was completed in 2011.
“This is really exciting,” said Ward 5 councillor Chad Collins. “There are sufficient funds to get us across the finish line.”
He said sports groups, especially Hamilton cricket clubs, have been “anxious” to have the new pitch built at Confederation Beach Park.
Collins said later the land where the former camp ground and where the sports complex will be located, has to be cleared of trees, and the infrastructure – hydro and servicing lines – need to be removed.
Other short-term projects under the Confederation Beach Park implementation strategy include spending $150,000 in a study to determine the future of the Wild Waterworks, relocating the current entrance of Confederation Beach Park to the North Service Road entrance and creating a “little squirt works” water play area for young users.
Collins said the Ministry of Transportation has been reviewing the traffic impacts of relocating the entrance of the park, but no answer has been received from the province yet. The Ministry is looking at the impact of traffic along the North Service Road, which can be an issue when the Queen Elizabeth Way is backed up due to traffic congestion.
More long-term ideas for Confederation Beach Park include $40 million in private investment concentrated in what consultants have called the Central Village –estimated to cost up to $10 million - with the idea of attracting businesses to establish restaurants or attractions that could be intertwined with the public investment projects.
Collins said the private investment is essential to help pay for improved services, such as water, sewers and other infrastructure. The city is currently looking at trying to find the $9.1 million for infrastructure upgrades.
An economic feasibility study found that Confederation Beach Park is an “undeveloped” asset, but it is “aging” and needs capital investment.
Lawrence Stasiuk, of the city’s landscape architectural services, said Wild Waterworks, needs to be updated for future use. The $40.7 million for redeveloping Confederation Beach Park does not included any costs associated for renovating Wild Waterworks, which is projected to break an attendance record this year, he said.
“This is a city asset,” said Collins. “But it’s an old, aging facility. We need to determine short and long-term strategies. They do come with a price tag.”
Last year the city completed 800 metres of a new 800-metre-trail around Stoney Creek Pond on the former campground after nearly a year of work. The trail connects to the main Lake Ontario Trail system.
In addition, councillors approved the new name for Confederation Park; introduced this January a new logo, which has a large light blue ‘C’, a lighthouse inside of it and wave at the bottom; new play equipment was installed at Beaches Grill in June; new signage is scheduled to be installed this fall, and secondary gate features will be constructed, also this fall.
Mountain councillor Tom Jackson said the vision for Confederation Beach Park is “exciting.” The only issue is the “unsightly” hydro lines that should be removed or relocated.
Collins said discussions have taken place about the 20-plus hydro towers along the property, but it will cost money to eliminate them.
The overall goal of the master plan, says Collins, is to create a year-round, multi-use facility within Confederation Beach Park. Other ideas for the park include creating winter activities such as ice skating.
The Confederation Beach Park strategy to create a sports facility for the public scored with Hamilton politicians.
The first phase of what is a $40.7million in public funding in an implementation strategy over the next 20 years for the 93-hectare park involves $3 million to be spent next year creating a regulation cricket pitch, 12 pickleball courts, parking lot, administrative building, and washrooms.
The preliminary cost for the sports complex, which also includes a natural area, and soccer fields, is about $7 million, according to the Confederation Park Master Plan Review that was completed in 2011.
“This is really exciting,” said Ward 5 councillor Chad Collins. “There are sufficient funds to get us across the finish line.”
He said sports groups, especially Hamilton cricket clubs, have been “anxious” to have the new pitch built at Confederation Beach Park.
Collins said later the land where the former camp ground and where the sports complex will be located, has to be cleared of trees, and the infrastructure – hydro and servicing lines – need to be removed.
Other short-term projects under the Confederation Beach Park implementation strategy include spending $150,000 in a study to determine the future of the Wild Waterworks, relocating the current entrance of Confederation Beach Park to the North Service Road entrance and creating a “little squirt works” water play area for young users.
Collins said the Ministry of Transportation has been reviewing the traffic impacts of relocating the entrance of the park, but no answer has been received from the province yet. The Ministry is looking at the impact of traffic along the North Service Road, which can be an issue when the Queen Elizabeth Way is backed up due to traffic congestion.
More long-term ideas for Confederation Beach Park include $40 million in private investment concentrated in what consultants have called the Central Village –estimated to cost up to $10 million - with the idea of attracting businesses to establish restaurants or attractions that could be intertwined with the public investment projects.
Collins said the private investment is essential to help pay for improved services, such as water, sewers and other infrastructure. The city is currently looking at trying to find the $9.1 million for infrastructure upgrades.
An economic feasibility study found that Confederation Beach Park is an “undeveloped” asset, but it is “aging” and needs capital investment.
Lawrence Stasiuk, of the city’s landscape architectural services, said Wild Waterworks, needs to be updated for future use. The $40.7 million for redeveloping Confederation Beach Park does not included any costs associated for renovating Wild Waterworks, which is projected to break an attendance record this year, he said.
“This is a city asset,” said Collins. “But it’s an old, aging facility. We need to determine short and long-term strategies. They do come with a price tag.”
Last year the city completed 800 metres of a new 800-metre-trail around Stoney Creek Pond on the former campground after nearly a year of work. The trail connects to the main Lake Ontario Trail system.
In addition, councillors approved the new name for Confederation Park; introduced this January a new logo, which has a large light blue ‘C’, a lighthouse inside of it and wave at the bottom; new play equipment was installed at Beaches Grill in June; new signage is scheduled to be installed this fall, and secondary gate features will be constructed, also this fall.
Mountain councillor Tom Jackson said the vision for Confederation Beach Park is “exciting.” The only issue is the “unsightly” hydro lines that should be removed or relocated.
Collins said discussions have taken place about the 20-plus hydro towers along the property, but it will cost money to eliminate them.
The overall goal of the master plan, says Collins, is to create a year-round, multi-use facility within Confederation Beach Park. Other ideas for the park include creating winter activities such as ice skating.
The Confederation Beach Park strategy to create a sports facility for the public scored with Hamilton politicians.
The first phase of what is a $40.7million in public funding in an implementation strategy over the next 20 years for the 93-hectare park involves $3 million to be spent next year creating a regulation cricket pitch, 12 pickleball courts, parking lot, administrative building, and washrooms.
The preliminary cost for the sports complex, which also includes a natural area, and soccer fields, is about $7 million, according to the Confederation Park Master Plan Review that was completed in 2011.
“This is really exciting,” said Ward 5 councillor Chad Collins. “There are sufficient funds to get us across the finish line.”
He said sports groups, especially Hamilton cricket clubs, have been “anxious” to have the new pitch built at Confederation Beach Park.
Collins said later the land where the former camp ground and where the sports complex will be located, has to be cleared of trees, and the infrastructure – hydro and servicing lines – need to be removed.
Other short-term projects under the Confederation Beach Park implementation strategy include spending $150,000 in a study to determine the future of the Wild Waterworks, relocating the current entrance of Confederation Beach Park to the North Service Road entrance and creating a “little squirt works” water play area for young users.
Collins said the Ministry of Transportation has been reviewing the traffic impacts of relocating the entrance of the park, but no answer has been received from the province yet. The Ministry is looking at the impact of traffic along the North Service Road, which can be an issue when the Queen Elizabeth Way is backed up due to traffic congestion.
More long-term ideas for Confederation Beach Park include $40 million in private investment concentrated in what consultants have called the Central Village –estimated to cost up to $10 million - with the idea of attracting businesses to establish restaurants or attractions that could be intertwined with the public investment projects.
Collins said the private investment is essential to help pay for improved services, such as water, sewers and other infrastructure. The city is currently looking at trying to find the $9.1 million for infrastructure upgrades.
An economic feasibility study found that Confederation Beach Park is an “undeveloped” asset, but it is “aging” and needs capital investment.
Lawrence Stasiuk, of the city’s landscape architectural services, said Wild Waterworks, needs to be updated for future use. The $40.7 million for redeveloping Confederation Beach Park does not included any costs associated for renovating Wild Waterworks, which is projected to break an attendance record this year, he said.
“This is a city asset,” said Collins. “But it’s an old, aging facility. We need to determine short and long-term strategies. They do come with a price tag.”
Last year the city completed 800 metres of a new 800-metre-trail around Stoney Creek Pond on the former campground after nearly a year of work. The trail connects to the main Lake Ontario Trail system.
In addition, councillors approved the new name for Confederation Park; introduced this January a new logo, which has a large light blue ‘C’, a lighthouse inside of it and wave at the bottom; new play equipment was installed at Beaches Grill in June; new signage is scheduled to be installed this fall, and secondary gate features will be constructed, also this fall.
Mountain councillor Tom Jackson said the vision for Confederation Beach Park is “exciting.” The only issue is the “unsightly” hydro lines that should be removed or relocated.
Collins said discussions have taken place about the 20-plus hydro towers along the property, but it will cost money to eliminate them.
The overall goal of the master plan, says Collins, is to create a year-round, multi-use facility within Confederation Beach Park. Other ideas for the park include creating winter activities such as ice skating.