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Commemorative Park Bench & Tree Program
Program information
Honour an individual or group by purchasing a park bench or tree for your local park. Donations of cash or gifts in kind to the Parks program allow for substantial improvements to our parks, and inspire community pride and a sense of place.
Benches and trees are the property of the City of Hamilton once purchased. They will be maintained at the discretion of staff in accordance with lifecycle analysis of the item.
Note:
- The Commemorative Park Bench and Tree Program is operated at full cost recovery and therefore prices listed on this website are subject to change without notice in order to reflect true costs;
- Donors should anticipate that installation/planting of commemorative benches/trees are generally completed one-year following the receipt of a donation. This timeline is extended for donations received in the fall and winter months;
- Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we continue to experience some delays in this program, resulting in longer than normal timelines to those listed on this website and in the agreements attached.
Commemorative benches
Plaques for park benches measure 5 cm by 20 cm (2 inches by 8 inches). The size of the plaque cannot exceed these measurements.
Wording for the plaques:
- Must be no more than 60 characters or three to four lines of text.
- Must be respectful and tasteful.
- Must be approved by the City of Hamilton.
The City may limit the number of plaques dedicated to an individual or group.
Plaque orders take about eight to 10 weeks before they are ready for installation. Installation times may vary based on bench style, availability and weather conditions.
Bench locations
You can request a commemorative bench in eligible parks within the City.
- We cannot place commemorative benches on lands under the ownership or jurisdiction of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the Royal Botanical Gardens or the School Board.
- We cannot place benches on any streetscape locations or in any of the Business Improvement Areas in the City of Hamilton.
Cost
Bench Style | Bench Image | Cost |
---|---|---|
Standard concrete bench with plaque
|
Bench: $1,050 With plaque: $1,550 |
|
Standard “Classic Riverside” bench with plaque
|
Bench: $1,700 With plaque: $2,200 |
|
Ornamental “Classic Riverside A” bench with plaque
|
Bench: $1,950 With plaque: $2,450 |
Vandalism, graffiti, theft and weathering
The following are guidelines around vandalism, graffiti, theft and weathering for commemorative benches:
- If your plaque is vandalized or stolen, the City will pay for one replacement plaque. Additional replacements are the donor’s responsibility.
- We do not refurbish benches on a regular schedule. The bench remains in place for the lifecycle of the bench, up to 10 years. The bench is removed when it becomes unsafe or unusable. When the bench is removed we attempt to return the plaque to the original donor.
Commemorative trees
Plaques for tree donations measure 15 cm by 20 cm (6 inches by 8 inches).
Wording for the plaques:
- Must be no more than 10 lines of text.
- Must be respectful and tasteful.
- Must be approved by the City of Hamilton.
The City of Hamilton may limit the number of plaques dedicated to an individual or group.
Plaque orders take about eight to10 weeks before they are ready for installation. Installation times may vary based on bench style, availability and weather conditions.
Tree locations
You can purchase a commemorative tree for eligible parks within the City of Hamilton.
- We cannot place trees on lands under the ownership or jurisdiction of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the Royal Botanical Gardens or the School Board.
- We cannot place trees on any streetscape locations or in any of the Business Improvement Areas in the City of Hamilton.
Cost
The cost for a commemorative tree is as follows:
- Tree donation without plaque - $500
- Tree donation with plaque - $1,000
Vandalism, graffiti, theft and weathering
The following are guidelines around vandalism, graffiti, theft and weathering for commemorative trees:
- If your plaque is vandalized or stolen, the City will pay for one replacement plaque. Additional replacements are the donor’s responsibility.
- If the tree dies it we remove it. When the tree is removed we attempt to return the plaque to the original donor.
Donate a commemorative park bench or tree
Here are the steps to take to donate a park bench or tree:
1. Ensure that the park you are requesting is eligible for the program by checking the “Parks and trails not eligible for bench or tree locations” tab below, or contact us by phone at 905-546 -2424 ext 7734 or email [email protected].
2. The requested park location must be approved by City staff before application is submitted. Once approved fill out the:
- Commemorative Bench Order Form (PDF, 96 KB)
- Commemorative Tree Order Form (PDF, 60 KB)
- Commemorative Plaque Order Form (PDF, 98 KB)
3. Submit the application form by mail along with your payment. Pricing for each item is found within the order forms.
By mail:
City of Hamilton
77 James St. N., Suite 400
Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2K3
Attention Gina Fabello, Administrative Secretary
Commemorative Bench & Tree ProgramParks and Cemeteries
Public Works Department
Parks and trails not eligible for bench or tree donations
The following parks and trails are some of the locations that are not eligible for bench or tree donations.
Park Name | Location |
---|---|
Battlefield Park | 77 King Street West |
Bayfront Park | 200 Harbour Front Drive |
Chedoke Twin Pad Arena (Park) | 91 Chedmac Drive |
City Hall | 71 Main Street West |
Chedoke Golf Course | 563 Aberdeen Avenue |
Confederation Park | 80 Van Wagner's Beach Road |
Dieppe Veterans' Memorial Park | 1033 Beach Boulevard |
Dundas Driving Park 1 | 71 Cross Street |
Dundurn Park | 600 York Boulevard |
Fieldcote Memorial Park | 64 Sulphur Springs Road |
Glen Manor - The Veevers Home | 22 Veevers Drive |
Gore Park | 1 Hughson Street South |
Hamilton Beach Recreation Trail (Beach Strip) | Confederation Park Area Trail |
Hamilton Harbour Waterfront Trail | Bayfront Park Area Trail |
King’s Forest Golf Course | 100 Greenhill Avenue |
Macassa Bay Walkway | 102 Harbour Front Drive |
Museum of Steam & Technology | 900 Woodward Avenue |
Pier 4 Park | 64 Leander Drive |
Sam Lawrence Park | 255 & 371 Concession Street |
Turner Park | 344 Rymal Road East |
Waterdown Memorial Park | 226 Main Street North, Waterdown |
Westfield Heritage Centre | 1049 Kirkwall Road |
Whitehern | 41 Jackson Street West |
William Connell Park | 1086 West 5th Street |
Contact us
Phone 905-546 -2424 ext 7734
Email [email protected]
- Date modified: