During last week’s Public Works Committee meeting, councillors had an unexpected debate on trees in parks.
A Public Letter
It all began with a letter of correspondence from a resident. Lee Fairbanks is advocating for converting some of the open fields in Vincent Massey Park into an urban forest.
Converting open park fields to forest “would be a tremendous boost in achieving Council’s goal of increasing the urban forest canopy from 20% to 40%, and offsetting our current Climate Emergency,” Fairbanks wrote.
He incorrectly blames City staff, who are following Council policy, for not implementing park forests.
“One of the biggest obstacles that has been suggested by councillors, environmental groups and members of the general public is the belief that staff are opposed to more trees, preferring open space that can be quickly mowed. And that staff would do everything possible to block trees despite near unanimous support.”
The Council Debate
Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko started off the debate by calling the letter, “a little bit misleading” because the City is planting thousands of trees and he says City staff are very responsive on the issue.
Danko added that the City’s Urban Forest Strategy is focused on both public and private lands, that the City has planted hundreds, maybe over a thousand, trees in his ward alone, and that the strategy is “very focused” on adding street trees.
Fairbanks lives in Ward 7, in a neighbourhood previously in Ward 6 before the 2018 ward boundary changes.
Ward 6 Clr Tom Jackson and Ward 7 Clr Esther Pauls took the opportunity to praise Fairbanks.
“I very much appreciate I wanted to get on the record as a former constituent. Lee Fairbanks brings a lot of passion to the table. I appreciate it, and he’s gone out of his way. I believe he’s attempted, maybe it hasn’t occurred, but I know he’s attempted to try to meet with each member of council as well,” stated Jackson.
Pauls talked about visiting Fairbanks’ backyard.
“I want to tell you that I’ve been in Mr. Fairbanks backyard and it is a forest. You should see it,” Pauls said. “It’s unbelievable. It’s beautiful.”
“What the problem is in parks, why we cannot plant, tons of trees in a park?”
The Staff Explanation
“The challenge that we have with park planning and design is a lot of the space that we see in parks that looks like it’s blank space is actually set aside for, impromptu activities,” stated Hamilton’s Director of Environmental Services Cynthia Graham. Graham oversess the City’s parks and outdoor spaces.
Things like, “kicking the soccer ball or playing Frisbee or walking your dog or having a picnic.”
“The challenge we have with creating forests in spaces like that that are designed has parkland; all of a sudden, you take away some of that use and some of that space.”
Council voted to receive the letter, and ask staff to meet with Fairbanks on the issue.
Production Details v. 1.0.0 Published: September 8, 2024 Last updated: September 8, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version