Hamilton elementary school can use Corktown Park, hence the fence

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Published August 30, 2022 at 2:02 pm

Children and teachers at a downtown Hamilton elementary school are getting exclusive use of a section of popular park.

Anyone who has passed through Corktown Park this summer might have noticed the addition of chain-link fencing separating the grassy areas from a walking/biking path on the north perimeter and the south parking lot. The fencing was added so that classes from neighbouring Queen Victoria Elementary School (QV) can have exclusive use of that area during the school day. Members of the QV parent council have pushed for the change for several years. The school’s own area is paved over with asphalt.

“It gives staff a safe area to bring their classes and ensure a big space for activities for the students,” Hamilton public board Ward 3 trustee Maria Felix Miller said in a Twitter thread on Tuesday (Aug. 30), crediting Wards 1 & 2 trustee Elizabeth Wong, previous trustee Christine Bingham, school board trustee candidate Tarek Jalbout and QV parent Hans Stief for their advocacy.

“Conversations around improving the actual school grounds are still ongoing,” Miller also noted in her thread.

The cost of the fencing was split 50/50 between the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) and the Ward 2 councillor’s office. (Each councillor in Hamilton has ward funds that can be spent on community projects, which many critics say gives an advantage to incumbents.)

In Ward 2, three-terms councillor Jason Farr is being challenged by Shahan Aaron, Cameron Kroetsch, Robin McKee and Raquel Rakovac in the Oct. 24 municipal election.

The fence that divides Corktown Park from Canadian National Railway tracks is often decorated with artwork from QV students. The park is nestled between train tracks, the Claremont Access overpass and the foot of the Niagara Escarpment. It offers basketball courts, a jungle gym, an off-leash dog walking area and soccer fields.

In an e-mail, Miller added that there is a plan to add signage to explain why more fencing was a needed step amid that ample greenspace.

“I’ve requested a sign be posted describing the project, its use, and the community advocacy that helped bring it fruition,” she said. “Staff (at HWDSB) is taking this last part away and hopefully we’ll have something posted soon.”

Miller is one of three candidates for HWDSB (English public) trustee in Ward 3, along with Fatima Baig and Larry Pattison.

In the spring, HWDSB, which has 11 trustees to represents 15 wards, voted to give wards 1 and 2 their own trustees.

Wong, Michaek Kelly, Cameron Prosic, Wendy Thrasher are running for the new Ward 1 seat. Ward 2 also has four public board trustee hopefuls: Jalbout, Sabreina Dahab, Michael Peters and Andrew Smyth.

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