Hamilton council votes to test soil quality at community gardens across city

Hamilton councillors are asking the city to start testing the quality of soil in community gardens around Hamilton.

The request comes after the part of Powell Park in the city’s east end was closed as a precaution, after tests found elevated levels of several chemicals, including a steel-making air pollutant that’s been linked to cancer.

The motion, presented by Hamilton Ward 3 Counc. Nrinder Nann, passed unanimously at the Public Works Committee meeting Monday.

It asks city staff to create a municipal standard for testing soil in community gardens and publicly owned land.

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Staff are set to report back with timelines, priority areas to conduct testing, and any costs associated with the program later this year.

At that time, city councillors will have to vote on which measures to approve.

The motion was spurred by the temporary closure of the Powell Park Community Garden at the beginning of May.

During the refurbishment of the surrounding park, the community garden soil was tested, and found elevated levels of lead, zinc, antimony and benzopyrene, pollutants that stem from steel-making, as well as heavy diesel trucks.

Nann says that revelation has led to a lot of questions from community members.

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“Residents who use community gardens in other parts of the city asked ‘has our soil ever been tested proactively?’, ‘is our soil okay?’ — these contaminants can exist in general urban environments in municipalities across Ontario, we would like some assurances that we’re growing in safe soil as well,” said Nann.

“So out of an abundance of caution and also helping our residents feel they can trust the soil and have confidence in what they’re growing — many neighbours not only grow food for themselves but also for neighbours, or help with community food programs with what they grow — it’s that much more imperative that we ensure that this testing happens.”

CHCH News reached out to the city to ask if residents who plant at other community gardens should be concerned about this growing season, and also for the latest on remediation at Powell Park.

CHCH News continues to wait for that information.

READ MORE: Powell Park community garden closed after contaminants found in soil