Ontario Construction News staff writer
FedDev Ontario is providing over $3.6 million to restore community spaces including the Hamilton Children’s Museum and Victoria and Beasley Parks.
MP Filomena Tassi announced funding for six City of Hamilton community infrastructure and tourism projects through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) and the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF).
Tourism Hamilton’s Visitor Centre, located in the historic Lister Building in central Hamilton received over $492,500 to create a new mixed-use exhibit and programming.
“Today’s investment in six City of Hamilton community infrastructure and tourism projects will help to enhance existing community infrastructure and events across the Hamilton region, boosting jobs and revenue across southern Ontario,” Tassi said.
Funded will go to:
Visitor Experience Centre at the Lister Block
- $492,682 for the mixed-use exhibit and programming space, which is being described as an “enhanced visitor gateway” to Hamilton’s tourism and heritage experiences. It will aim to offer programming opportunities for local creators and exhibit space for community groups. Renovations are expected to start this winter and wrap up by March 2023.
Restoration of St. Mark’s Church
- $750,000 to transform the vacant space into a cultural programming space, with a restored interior, barrier-free entrances and facilities, and a community garden.
- Construction was scheduled to begin this July and is expected to wrap up by summer 2023.
Hamilton Children’s Museum
- $450,000 for an addition to the popular Gage Park attraction, to create additional program spaces, a large outdoor gathering space, barrier-free entrances and bathrooms, a children’s garden, two outdoor patio play spaces, and an elevator.
- Project cost is $4.3 million, and the city has committed $938,800, with the rest of the cost is covered by the provincial and federal governments.
- Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and wrap up by fall 2023.
Beasley Park
- Work will create a pedestrianized urban plaza through the closure of the existing Kelly Street right of way, and construction of a new accessible patio.
- Project cost is $1.2 million.
- Construction will begin this fall and is expected to wrap up by fall 2023.
Victoria Park
- Renovations will recreate the old Crystal Palace that stood on the site from 1860 to 1891.
- Work includes replacing the spray pad, creating a new sun shelter, planting more trees, adding more seating, and improving pathway networks.
- Project cost is $1.02 million.
- Work will get underway this fall and is scheduled to be finished by summer 2023.