Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety Measures Pending in Valley Park Neighbourhood

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

For the past 12 months, I have been working with Transportation Department Management on concerns raised by several residents about traffic calming needs and pedestrian safety in the Valley Park area. Below is an email from our Manager of Operations that responds to all of these issues.

Manager of Transportation Operations Responds to Residents About Pending Upgrades

“Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding roadway safety in the Valley Park area. As Councillor Clark mentioned, staff have been reviewing roadway safety conditions in the area and advancing a number of initiatives intended to improve safety, particularly for vulnerable road users.

There is currently a significant amount of roadway safety and pedestrian infrastructure work either underway, planned, or progressing through design within the broader Valley Park area. This includes several improvements scheduled for implementation in 2026, along with larger reconstruction and crossing enhancement projects planned for future years.

While some of the larger infrastructure projects require additional engineering, funding approvals, coordination, and construction planning before implementation, a substantial amount of technical and engineering work has already been completed to assess conditions, identify improvements, and move projects toward implementation. Several upgrades are already proceeding this year.

I understand that from a resident perspective it can sometimes appear that progress is slow, particularly when concerns relate to roadway safety and driver behaviour experienced on a daily basis. However, there is a considerable amount of roadway safety work planned within the Valley Park area which reflects ongoing coordination between Transportation staff, Councillor Clark’s office, and concerns that have been raised by residents over time.

To help provide context regarding the amount of work occurring in the area, I have included a map below identifying planned and upcoming roadway safety and pedestrian infrastructure projects within the Valley Park community and surrounding area. Each project has been numbered for convenience, and additional information regarding the scope and anticipated timing of the work is provided beneath the map.

Please note that the numbering does not reflect the order of implementation, but rather generally follows the geographic location of each project within the area.

Collectively, these projects represent a broad package of roadway safety, pedestrian connectivity, and crossing improvements within the Valley Park area.

The following outlines roadway safety and pedestrian infrastructure projects currently planned, underway, or progressing through design within the Valley Park area:

  1. Valley Park / Marston Street / Pembroke Street intersection:
    • The intersection of Marston Street and the Valley Park entrance/Pembroke Street is planned to be upgraded to a signalized intersection as part of the future partial reconstruction of Paramount Drive. The project is currently progressing through preliminary design and is anticipated to proceed to detailed engineering in 2026/2027, with construction currently targeted for 2028. In addition to the traffic signal installation, the broader project is expected to include roadway and sidewalk enhancements along Paramount Drive within the area.
  1. Paramount Drive – East Hamilton Trail Loop crossing:
    • The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing of the East Hamilton Trail Loop is planned to be upgraded to a formal controlled crossing, anticipated to be a mid-block pedestrian traffic signal. This work is planned in coordination with the future Paramount Drive reconstruction project currently targeted for 2028.
  1. Marston Street – East Hamilton Trail Loop crossing:
    • The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing of the East Hamilton Trail Loop is scheduled to be upgraded to a pedestrian crossover (PXO) in 2026.
  1. Isaac Brock Drive – pedestrian/school crossing:
    • The existing raised pedestrian crossover will be upgraded in 2026 to include push-buttons and overhead rapid amber flashing beacons to further enhance pedestrian visibility and driver awareness.
  1. Winterberry Drive – East Hamilton Trail Loop crossing:
    • The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing of the East Hamilton Trail Loop is scheduled to be upgraded to a pedestrian crossover (PXO) in 2026.
  1. Highland Road West – Eramosa Karst Trail entrance:
    • The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing at the Eramosa Karst Trail entrance is scheduled to be upgraded to a pedestrian crossover (PXO) in 2026.
  1. Winterberry Drive – neighbourhood connectivity to Heritage Green:
    • A future controlled pedestrian crossing between the residential neighbourhood and Heritage Green commercial area is currently being advanced through feasibility review by the City’s integrated active transportation team. The crossing is anticipated to ultimately include a controlled pedestrian crossing, likely in the form of a mid-block pedestrian traffic signal, intended to improve broader east-west pedestrian and cycling connectivity within the area.

Regarding the intersection of Paramount Drive and Marston Street specifically, staff have been actively working with Councillor Clark’s office over an extended period regarding roadway safety concerns raised by residents in the area. Those discussions and reviews have helped inform both the longer-term improvement plans outlined above, as well as additional interim measures currently being examined by my roadway safety team.

While the future reconstruction and crossing enhancements identified above will provide more substantial long-term improvements, staff have also continued reviewing opportunities to improve safety conditions in the near term. As part of that work, a stop sign compliance study will be undertaken next week to formally document driver behaviour concerns at the intersection. This information, along with previous observations and resident feedback received through the Councillor’s office and directly from residents, will help support discussions with Hamilton Police Services regarding potential targeted enforcement initiatives.

In parallel, staff are also reviewing several additional near-term enhancement options intended to improve safety conditions at the intersection while the broader reconstruction and crossing projects continue progressing through design and implementation.

Roadway safety in the Valley Park area continues to be an active focus for Transportation staff, and the projects and actions outlined above represent a significant amount of planned roadway safety and pedestrian infrastructure investment within the community.”

Paramount Park Playground Replacement

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

Please be advised that the Paramount Park Play Structure replacement– ‘Play your Way’ community engagement survey will be active until June 22, 2026.

The City is planning to replace the playground at Paramount Park, located at 1170 Paramount Drive (Ward 9) in Hamilton’s Albion neighbourhood. The park includes soccer fields, a baseball diamond, walking trails, open grass areas and a playground.

The existing playground features a combined junior and senior play structure and swing sets. It has provided families and neighbours with a place to play, connect, and enjoy the outdoors. Now it’s time to reimagine the space to meet new needs of the community.

Why This Matters

Local parks and playgrounds are an important part of every neighbourhood. They support healthy, active living, create spaces for connection, and help build a sense of community. When residents help shape these spaces, the result is a park that reflects the people who use it, one that is more welcoming, inclusive, and well used.

How to Get Involved

This spring (2026), we’ll be launching an online survey to hear from you. We want to know what kinds of playground features you would like to see in the new design.

Everyone is welcome to take part, children, youth, parents, grandparents, caregivers, and anyone who uses the park.

How We Will Use Your Input

Your feedback will help shape the design of the new playground. The ideas and suggestions you share will be reviewed and used to guide the final design plans. Please take the survey through the following link:

https://engage.hamilton.ca/pyw-paramount-park

What We Are Looking to Learn

We want to learn:

  • What play equipment or features are most important to you
  • What makes a great playground for your family or community
  • Any ideas or themes you’d like to see included

Your ideas are key to this project, we want the new Paramount Park playground to reflect the needs and wishes of the people who use it most (and for the future use by the community).

Ward 9 Park’s Grass Cutting to be Maintained

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

During deliberations of the Mayor’s Budget directions with regard to reducing and eliminating city grass cutting across the city. I raised concerns that the proposed elimination of grass cutting in Albion Estates Park, Aylmer Parkette and Tapleytown Men’s Club Park would be a real loss for local residents and students. I pointed out that these parks are in close proximity between two schools and private residents. I raised the concerns that such a plan would raise the risk of tick bites and possible tick borne illness.

Subsequently, Councillor Tom Jackson and I moved an amendment to pause the reductions for one year during the budget debate. Regrettably, our amendment was defeated by the majority of councillors.

Included in the grass cutting reductions were the following parks and parkettes

a)  Albion Estates Park – grass cutting reduction (park)

b)  Aylmer Parkette – grass cutting reduction (parkette)

c)  Tapleytown Men’s Club Park – grass cutting reduction (park)

Subsequently, I corresponded with the Director of Environmental Services requesting that if the decision to cut grass cutting services to Albion Estates Park, Aylmer Parkette, and Tapleytown Men’s Club Park was solely to reduce costs then I would suggest funding through the landfill royalties. I stated that I remained concerned that these parks are well used by local communities and allowing them to naturalize will like increase the risk of tick exposure, and bites. The Director of Environmental Services responded, I checked with staff and none of these locations are slated for mowing reductions.  While they were on the list initially, they were removed in the final version. No funding needed!

Thank You!

We are grateful that environmental services management and staff reviewed these parks and decided to continue maintaining them as in past years. My residents living close to these parks as well as several hundred students from Billy Green and St Paul Elementary Schools are truly grateful.