Ontario
Population: 578,000¹
- Hamilton is nearly 1.5 times the average of community gardens relative to population with just over 11 gardens per 100,000 people.
- Hamilton is slightly above the average for hectares of parkland per population for cities over 500,000 with 4.5 hectares per thousand people.
- Hamilton is one of 50% of cities that have a policy to waive permit fees for groups that show financial need.
- Through a program that allows residents to build outdoor ice rinks in city parks, local community members created a large ice rink in Gage Park in the winter of 2020.
- To inform the development of a citywide parks master plan, CityLAB, an organization that matches post-secondary students with city staff to tackle challenges, released their 2020 report on engagement strategies.
- Green Cities Foundation is working with local residents in the Barton Village Community on creating a natural playground and creating urban agriculture opportunities on a brownfield site and within three neighbourhood parks.
4.5
ha parkland per 1000 people
2600 ha of total parkland
45%
of total parkland is natural area
1160 total ha
39%
of parkland is environmentally significant/protected
1010 total ha
2%
of total city land is parkland
112,800 ha of total city area
13
dog parks
65
2Community gardens/urban farms
2.1 ha / 1,000 people
Parkland provision goal (distance to park / ha per 1000 people)
1.9
3volunteers / 1000 people
1121 total
42
community park groups
Yes
Policy to waive permit fees for groups with financial need
$43
Parks operating budget per person
$25,032,670 total
$5,221,000
Total parks capital budget
$108,000
Total philanthropy/sponsorships
5%
Provincially legislated tools available for parkland dedication, acquisition and/or development
Municipalities are able to require up to 5% of the land area of a residential development for parkland or, through an alternate rate bylaw, one hectare in land per 300 units or the equivalent in cash-in-lieu of one hectare per 500 units. Municipalities are also able to require 2% of commercial or non-residential development for parkland or the equivalent in cash-in-lieu. Municipalities may also fund eligible parks improvements through Development Charges and may choose to collect funding for parkland through a Community Benefits Charge, but overlap between these tools must be avoided.
¹Adjustment from the province to reflect growth targets. ²Reduction from last year due to COVID-19. Anticipated that it will be temporary. ³Includes volunteers engaged in maintenance/stewardship only.
