The Heritage Green Community Trust Leash Free Dog Park has been closed as a result of the COVID-19 Provincial Order. The City has locked the gates and placed a closure sign on the fence.
Our staff, who have been monitoring our parks and playgrounds noticed that dog owners were congregating in close proximity to each other contrary to the provincial order prohibiting gatherings of five or more people. Accordingly, the City had to close the park until further notice.
When you are (“out and about”… it’s true, Canadians do say it) walking your dog, please give a wide birth to anyone that you meet along your way. Keep yourself and your family safe by practising physical distancing.
Heritage Green Community Sports Park is located at 355 First Road West in Ward 9. The 32.57 hectare (80.5 acre) master planned sports park includes a number of high-quality soccer fields and ball diamonds. Park amenities include: 2 baseball diamonds, 4 natural and 1 artificial turf soccer pitches, a playground, spray pad, field house, walking pathways, multiple gravel parking lots. The park is also located next to the Heritage Green Community Trust dog park and walkways.
Over the past two decades, this park has undergone master plan consultation to create the current framework for the multi-phased implementation process.
In 2020, phase 7 of the master plan implementation will occur. The existing driveway and walkways will be extended to the intersection of Echovalley Drive and Stockbridge Gardens and will include:
Installation of a 6m wide gravel driveway from the existing driveway, south to Echovalley Drive.
Install a 3m wide screening pathway, connecting to the sidewalk at Echovalley Drive
Add a paved driveway entrance at Echovalley Drive
Add an access gate at the new entrance
Relocation of one park light pole along the existing driveway
Relocation of existing armour stones as required
Restoration seeding
Progress
Summer 2020 – Construction start anticipated July-August
Spring 2020 – Project to be tendered in April-May
2019 – Detailed design using approved Master Plan as framework
The City of Hamilton is accepting donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide much-needed resources for the city-wide response to COVID-19. The equipment will be provided to frontline workers, emergency responders and other healthcare professionals.
The City is accepting:
surgical masks
N95 masks
impervious gowns
gloves
face shields
swabs
sanitizer
We are requesting these items from local businesses such as: healthcare providers, pest control, hospitality providers, nail salons, contractors and construction companies. Unfortunately, homemade equipment cannot be accepted.
To donate, please email ppe@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2424 ext. 2257
I urge you to please consider checking your supplies and donating to assist in providing this crucial equipment to our frontline workers.
The City’s Municipal Law Enforcement (MLE) division and the Hamilton Police Service continue to monitor for compliance of the provincial emergency order issued last weekend under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act prohibiting organized public events and social gatherings of more than five (5) people.
The MLE will use a progressive enforcement approach if they do not obtain compliance or there is a repeated offence, and charges may be laid. Fines of up to $750 per individual may be applied, while corporations could face fines up to $500,000.
To report concerns about adherence to the provincial order:
Concern about a local business or public gatherings of 5+ people, without physical distancing: 905-546-2489 (546-CITY)
Business not following proper hygiene: 905-974-9848
Inquiring if a business is essential: 1-888-444-3659
Sunday was an unusually busy day in Ward 9. I was catching up on a pile of emails, returning phone calls and dealing with a wide range of constituent concerns. Early in the day, I drove out to the Devil’s Punch Bowl to check on some reports of drag racing, household garbage in a ditch as well as people congregating on the observation platform. In fact, the night before I received an email with a photograph of some misguided dingleberry climbing the Stoney Creek Cross. (see pic below – he’s halfway up the cross)
On the way home, I was struck with an overwhelming sense of frustration and exasperation. Alone and not prone to swearing, I found myself expressing out loud a stream of expletives reminiscent of that scene in Christmas Vacation when Clark Griswald learned that his Christmas bonus had been cancelled. I won’t share with you the exact words that I said but trust me when I say, it was out of character. Yet, it was totally cathartic. (Yes, like Clark… I also needed the Tylenol.)
I mean really. What is it going to take to get people to physically isolate themselves from other people? Every public health expert and every epidemiologist has agreed that quarantines and self-isolation is the only way to break the back of this viral beast that is plaguing the world and killing our family and friends. So, why would you put yourself and others at risk, by gathering in such proximity to complete strangers to view a vista that you will be able to see any time, after the virus has burned itself out. While I’m at it, who the heck was the moron that was willing to risk his life and the life of first responders by climbing this iconic cross? And please don’t tell me that he did it for a fleeting selfie!
Fortunately, my positive and hopeful outlook quickly returned as I drove by this quaint and gracious message of hope written on my neighbour’s sidewalk.
Truer words were never spoken. As such, I take great comfort in knowing that the vast majority of residents are following the advice of our public health care experts. I remain hopeful that we will continue to listen and abide to these scientists. I remain hopeful that our first responders, health care professionals and cleaners will continue to have the personal protection equipment that they need to keep themselves safe as they care for the ill. I remain hopeful that our hospitals will have the capacity and the required number of lifesaving ventilators. I remain hopeful that our senior levels of governments will ensure our hospitals have the requisite equipment to do their jobs. I remain hopeful that the City of Hamilton Emergency Operations Centre will continue to serve our communities well. I remain hopeful the promised emergency funding will start to flow to those who lost their jobs and are in real financial states of despair. I remain hopeful that this viral beast that has stolen thousands of lives will soon burn out and we can return to some sense of normalcy, scarred but having survived it.
Brad Clark Report 
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