Construction work to continue at Hamilton Mountain park after toxic soil shutdown

Reconstruction at a popular park on Hamilton’s East Mountain is scheduled to resume this fall after it was delayed two years due to soil contamination.

In an email to CHCH News, the City of Hamilton says Mountain Drive Park is slated to reopen in 2027. Contamination removal will begin this summer.

The work to install a new playground, spray pad, sun shelter and walkways was put on hold after soil sampling showed levels of zinc and petroleum that did not meet provincial safety standards.

The city gated off the park situated on Concession Street in April 2024.

“Holding up the last two years, we had to find extra money in the city capital budget, because there was no way the original budget would include contamination removal,” said Ward 6 Councillor Tom Jackson.

The original budget to develop the park was $2 million, according to Jackson. He also adds that the cost of contamination removal is estimated at $3 million, making the total project upwards of $5 million.

There was concern from residents regarding why green space inside the enclosure was deemed contaminated, and new trees being planted outside the fenced area.

According to Jackson, consultants hired for the park reconstruction found contamination in certain sections of the park, and decided on a broader enclosure out of an abundance of caution.

“The ministry has said to municipalities once you discover, close the area and show us your plans of removal,” said Jackson.

The councillor says the cause is historical: over 60 years ago, the area was used as a dumping ground, with traces of metals like zinc and petroleum found in the soil after testing.

A leash-free dog park on Birch Avenue closed to the public almost a year ago after studies found the dirt had traces of zinc, copper, lead and mercury.

Powell Park community garden is the latest park to close this month, also due to soil contamination. While the risk to the public is low at both green spaces, the City says they’ve closed them to prioritize residents’ health and safety.

The City says people can continue to visit other nearby parks such as Peace Memorial Park.

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