A ground breaking ceremony was recently held to celebrate the start of construction on a new 13,600 square foot tropical greenhouse in Hamilton’s Gage Park. The new facility will replace the existing structure, which is deteriorating due to life-cycle decline and structural failure.
The park was designed in the early 1920s during the “City Beautiful” movement. It features an eye-catching fountain, flower gardens and walkways and boasts views of the Niagara Escarpment. The publicly accessible tropical greenhouse will offer a unique sub-tropical environment and will feature a community gathering space, fish ponds and exotic free-flying birds within the controlled environment.
“One of the most exciting aspects of this project is that its design is centred on community programming, access, and education,” said City of Hamilton Councillor Matthew Green, in a press release. “When complete, the Gage Park Community Greenhouse will grow beyond a local oasis into a regional attraction, just in time to celebrate the park’s upcoming 100th anniversary.”
In 2010, City Council approved a Master Plan for the park that respects its iconic features, while adjusting to meet the current needs of the community. To support the construction the new greenhouse, the City formally accepted a donation of $350,000 from the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation in May 2017.
“The Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse is truly the home of horticulture in Hamilton,” added Craig Murdoch, director of environmental services for the City of Hamilton. “It’s going to be a wonderful addition to our operational greenhouse and horticulture operations facility in Gage Park.”
