Awards & Tributes
Commemorative Park Bench & Tree Program
Contact Us
For additional information
Call 905-546-2489
Email [email protected]
Residents can send requests in but no scheduling or payments are being taken at this time.
Honour an individual or group by donating a bench or tree to your local park. Donations to the Commemorative Park Bench and Tree Program allow for substantial improvements to our parks and inspire community pride and a sense of place.
As per the City of Hamilton’s Donation Policy, the City will solicit and receive donations of funds, services and goods that enable it to reduce the cost of approved projects and programs; enhance existing services that do not increase operating costs; and finance desired projects and services that are not funded from the tax levy or other municipal sources. As such, the Commemorative Park Bench and Tree Program is operated at full cost recovery and therefore, donations listed on this website are subject to change without notice to reflect true costs.
Learn more about
Commemorative Donations
There are three different types of park benches to choose from. Additionally, there is an option to add a personalized commemorative plaque. Please review the below options before proceeding to the webform.
Bench Installs
- For donations received by April 30 benches are expected to be installed by December 31
- For donations received by August 30 benches are expected to be installed by April 30 of the following year
Standard Concrete Bench $1,300
Includes bench with poured concrete legs, sustainable plastic slats *personalized plaque as picture requires additional donation. Donation inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees.
Classic Riverside Bench $4,250
Includes bench with cast iron legs no arms, sustainable plastic slats installed on concrete base *colour may vary, personalized plaque as picture requires additional donation. Donation inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees.
Classic Riverside A Bench $4,450
Includes bench with cast iron arms and legs, sustainable plastic slats installed on concrete pad *colour may vary, personalized plaque as picture requires additional donation. Donation inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees.
Personalized Commemorative Bench Plaque $295
5 centimetres x 20 centimetres bronze-like plaque, engraved into top bench slat, personalized with your message. Each bench can host a single plaque. Bench plaque donation must accompany a bench donation. Donation inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees.
City of Hamilton is committed to offering a selection of native tree species for your donation. Donating a native tree helps to increase the biodiversity across our city and makes our urban forest more resilient to climate change and disease. Your donation also contributes to the City’s goal to increase the urban forest canopy to 30%.
Below are the relevant details for donating a commemorative tree with the option of adding a personalized commemorative plaque. Please review the commemorative park tree species pick list and have your species selected prior to filling out the webform.
Tree Plantings
- For donations received by February 28 trees are expected to be planted by September 30
- For donations received by September 30 trees are expected to be planted by June 30 of the following year
Commemorative Tree $870
Includes 50-70 mm caliper native tree from the species list (found below) suited to the park location. Tree health will be supported with mulch and a water bag (during the year planted and following two years). *personalized plaque requires additional donation. Donation inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees.
Personalized Commemorative Tree Plaque $1,250
15 cm x 20 cm cast metal plaque, stake mounted and set in a buried concrete footing, personalized with up to 6 lines of text with up to 21 characters/spaces per line. Tree plaque donation must accompany a tree donation. Donation inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees.
| Common / Scientific Name | Mature Size | Special Attributes |
|---|---|---|
| American Hophornbeam / Ostrya virginiana | Small | Fall Color: Yellow Wildlife: Birds & mammals |
| American Yellowwood / Cladrastis kentukea | Medium | Flower: Showy/fragrant white (spring) |
| Black Gum / Nyssa sylvatica | Large | Fall Color: Scarlet red Wildlife: Birds & mammals |
| Blue Beech / Carpinus caroliniana | Small | Fall Color: Yellow to orange-red Wildlife: Birds & mammals |
| Common Hackberry / Celtis occidentalis | Medium | Fall Color: Yellow Bark: Attractive/interesting Wildlife: Birds |
| Cucumbertree / Magnolia acuminata | Large | Flower: Fragrant yellow (summer) Wildlife: Songbirds |
| Downy Serviceberry / Amelanchier arborea | Small | Flower: White (spring) Fruit: Red/purple berry (summer) Wildlife: Birds & mammals Fall Color: Red |
| Eastern Redbud / Cercis canadensis | Small | Flower: Purplish-pink (spring) |
| Flowering Dogwood / Cornus florida | Small | Flower: Showy/fragrant white (spring) Fall Color: Red/purple Wildlife: Birds, pollinators & mammals |
| Northern Catalpa / Catalpa speciosa | Large | Flower: Showy/fragrant white (spring) Wildlife: Pollinators |
| Ohio Buckeye / Aesculus glabra | Medium | Flower: Yellow (spring) Wildlife: Pollinators & Butterflies |
| Sassafras / Sassafras albidum | Medium | Fall Color: Yellow to orange/red |
| Sycamore / Platanus occidentalis | Large | Bark: Attractive/interesting Wildlife: Pollinators & birds |
| Tuliptree / Liriodendron tulipifera | Large | Size: One of the largest trees in North America Flower: Orange-yellow (late spring) Wildlife: Birds, pollinators & mammals |
| White Oak / Quercus alba | Large | Lifespan: Very long-lived (300+ years) Fall Color: Red Wildlife: Birds & mammals |
Donate a Peace Memorial Plaque to be installed on either the North Wall or South Wall at Peace Memorial Park. There are two different types of plaques to choose from. Please review the below options before proceeding to the webform.
Plaque Installs
- For donations received between January 1 - July 1, plaques are expected to be installed by October 31
- For donations received July 2 - December 31, plaques are expected to be installed between May - October of the following year
Veteran Plaque - $720
15 cm x 10 cm cast metal plaque with poppy on top left corner, installed on the South Wall at Peace Memorial Park and personalized with up to 4 lines of text with up to 25 characters/spaces per line.
General Public Plaque - $720
15 cm x 10 cm cast metal plaque, installed on the North Wall at Peace Memorial Park and personalized with up to 4 lines of text with up to 25 characters/spaces per line.
Review the list of
Eligible City Parks
City of Hamilton operates over 400 Parks with most being eligible to receive a bench or tree donation. Please review the Eligible Commemorative Parks map below for a complete listing of all eligible City Parks for the program. You will need to provide your top 3 parks for your bench and/or tree in order of preference on the donation webform.
Submit online application
Commemorative Park Bench & Tree Application
Please complete the Donation Webform to submit your request for a park bench, tree, and/or plaque. City of Hamilton staff will contact you via email to confirm receipt of donation once payment has been made and to request sign-off on your plaque proof before proceeding with ordering and installation.
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