The City of Hamilton says the gates at Ferguson Station Park are broken, and staff recommend that they be lifted until the Council approves funding to install new gates.
During Wednesday’s Cleanliness and Security in the Downtown Core Task Force meeting, staff suggested rolling the gates up and monitoring the location, as an alternative to keeping the event space closed.
“I like the idea of rolling them up. However, I think the issue there is, how do we deter illegal activity? Encampments? This is why we’ve had to keep them closed all these years,” stated Hamilton International Village Business Improvement Area Executive Director Susie Braithwaite.
“The whole park, in my opinion, needs a little bit of a redesign.”
Braithwaite noted that the area businesses, and herself as BIA director, do not have the capacity to monitor the space.
“I’m not entirely sure that keeping them open without daily clean-ups and supervision of that site is the answer, because I think it’s just asking for problems. We have enough problems in that space right now.”
After debate about Ferguson Station Park’s design and layout, the Committee voted to pause the staff plan and directed staff to prepare a report on the park’s next steps, including a more detailed plan for repairing the structure’s gates.
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Published: April 1, 2025
Last updated: April 1, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version
This park has so much potential but the city has neglected it and many public spaces.
How about redesigning the actual building so it can be used more? Maybe turning it from a pavilion into a 3 or 4 season building. A coffee shop and local art gallery would be great there. The patio would be a draw for sure. I’m picturing the kiosks you see in European parks that are a magnet for community. Better that it sitting unused most of the year.
Well on Wed nights they have a large crowd gather to feed the homeless. I live up the street and haven’t noticed any problems with that.
I hope this doesn’t sit and rot ……
We used to have theater events in the Ferguson station for the Fringe festival. I wish these stages and areas could be used again for Performance areas and not illegal drugs or encampments. Hamilton Ontario needs to improve the downtown core and help bring the public to businesses and restaurants in the area near Ferguson St.