Commemorative Park Bench & Tree Program
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.
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 (PDF 28 KB), 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 in order to reflect true costs.
Refer to the Park Bench, Park Tree and or Plaque Donation Agreements for details regarding donation lifecycle, ownership, maintenance, vandalism, theft and graffiti.
Donate a Commemorative Park Bench
Follow the 3 steps below to donate a bench to one of Hamilton’s eligible City Parks (some City Parks are not eligible for donations through the program) with the option of adding a personalized commemorative plaque.
1. Review Commemorative Park Bench Donation Details
Commemorative Park Bench Donation Details
TYPE 1 - Standard Concrete Bench $1,100 each
Includes bench with poured concrete legs, sustainable plastic slats ($1,100) *personalized plaque as picture requires additional donation. Donation inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees.
TYPE 2 - Classic Riverside Bench $3,300 each
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.
TYPE 3 - Classic Riverside A Bench $3,475 each
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.
Add On – Personalized Commemorative Bench Plaque $500 each
5 centimetres x 20 centimetres cast metal plaque, engraved into top bench slat, personalized with up-to 4 lines of text and up to 37 characters/spaces per line. Each bench can host up to two personalized plaques. Bench plaque donation must accompany a bench donation. Donation inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees.
2. Choose your preferred bench type(s) and Park(s)
To determine a *preferred park for your bench donation please review our Eligible City Parks and complete your Bench Donation Agreement as follows:
- List your top 3 parks in order of preference or,
- If applicable, choose an existing bench without a plaque within an eligible park, include a photo or description along with your agreement paperwork for the same type of bench and we’ll replace the existing bench with a new bench that includes your personalized plaque engraved.
*Our Parks are designed to include bench placement in specific locations therefore final bench location will be at the discretion of City staff.
3. Complete Commemorative Bench Agreement and Review Deadlines
Complete the Bench Donation Agreement (PDF, 159 KB) and the Plaque Donation Agreement (PDF, 148 KB) and submit it along with your full donation.
We are unable to accommodate rush requests. For completed bench donation agreements and full donations received by:
- April 30, expect installation to occur by December 31 of the same calendar year;
- August 30, expect installation to occur by April 30 of the following calendar year.
City of Hamilton staff will contact you via email to confirm receipt of donation and to request sign-off on your plaque proof before proceeding with ordering and installation.
Donate a Commemorative Park Tree
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%. Follow the 3 steps below to donate a tree to one of Hamilton's eligible City Parks (some City Parks are not eligible for donations through the program) with the option of adding a personalized commemorative plaque.
1. Review Commemorative Park Tree Donation Details
Commemorative Tree $870 each
Includes 50-70 mm caliper native tree from the ‘Species List’ ($870) 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.
Add On – Personalized Commemorative Tree Plaque $720 each
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.
2. Choose your preferred tree species and Park(s)
To determine a preferred park for your tree donation, please review the Eligible City Parks section and provide your top 3 choices of eligible Parks in order of preference, along with your species selection from the Commemorative Park Tree Species Pick List. A suitable tree location will be determined by City of Hamilton staff to accommodate the species selected.
Commemorative Park Tree Species Pick List
| Common / Scientific Name | Mature Size | Special Attributes |
|---|---|---|
|
American Hophornbeam |
Small |
Fall Color: Yellow |
|
American Yellowwood |
Medium | Flower: Showy/fragrant white (spring) |
|
Black Gum |
Large |
Fall Color: Scarlet red |
|
Blue Beech |
Small |
Fall Color: Yellow to orange-red |
|
Common Hackberry |
Medium |
Fall Color: Yellow |
|
Cucumbertree |
Large |
Flower: Fragrant yellow (summer) |
|
Downy Serviceberry |
Small |
Flower: White (spring) |
|
Eastern Redbud |
Small |
Flower: Purplish-pink (spring) |
|
Flowering Dogwood |
Small |
Flower: Showy/fragrant white (spring) |
|
Northern Catalpa |
Large |
Flower: Showy/fragrant white (spring) |
|
Ohio Buckeye |
Medium |
Flower: Yellow (spring) |
|
Sassafras |
Medium | Fall Color: Yellow to orange/red |
|
Sycamore |
Large |
Bark: Attractive/interesting |
|
Tuliptree |
Large |
Size: One of the largest trees in North America |
|
White Oak |
Large |
Lifespan: Very long-lived (300+ years) |
3. Complete Commemorative Tree Agreement and Review Deadlines
Complete the Tree Donation Agreement (PDF, 35 KB) and the Plaque Donation Agreement (PDF, 148 KB) and submit it along with your full donation.
We are unable to accommodate rush requests. For completed Tree Donation Agreements and full donations received by:
- February 28, expect installation to occur by September 30 of the same calendar year;
- September 30, expect installation to occur by June 30 of the following calendar year.
City of Hamilton staff will contact you via email to confirm receipt of donation and to request sign-off on your plaque proof before proceeding with ordering and installation.
Donate a Peace Memorial Park Plaque
Follow the 2 steps below to donate a Peace Memorial Plaque to be installed on either the North Wall or South Wall at Peace Memorial Park:
1. Review Commemorative Peace Memorial Plaque Donation Details
Veteran Plaque $500 each
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 $500 each
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.
2. Complete Commemorative Peace Memorial Plaque and Review Deadlines
Complete the Commemorative Plaque Donation Agreement (PDF, 148 KB) and submit it along with your full donation.
We are unable to accommodate rush requests. For completed Peace Memorial Park Plaque agreements and full donations received between:
- January 1 - July 1, expect installation to occur by October 31 of the same calendar year;
- July 2 – December 31, expect installation to occur between May and October of the following calendar year.
City of Hamilton staff will contact you via email to confirm receipt of donation and to request sign-off on your plaque proof before proceeding with ordering and installation.
Eligible City Parks
City of Hamilton operates over 400 Parks with most being eligible to receive a bench or tree donation. Visit City of Hamilton Parks Listing, or our interactive Parks Finder Map for a complete listing of all City Parks. Prior to making your preferred park selection on your Park Bench or Park Tree Donation Agreement, please review the Ineligible City Parks list below to ensure your preferred park(s) is not listed.
Ineligible City Parks
Please note that the following properties are ineligible for a donation at this time through the City of Hamilton Commemorative Park Bench and Tree Program. This list is subject to change.
- any City of Hamilton Owned Property not managed by Parks and Cemeteries (such as Business Improvement Areas, Roadways and sidewalks);
- any City of Hamilton Open Space;
- any City of Hamilton Cemetery;
- any Designated Heritage Site;
- any properties managed but not owned by City of Hamilton Parks and Cemeteries (such as Churchill Park and Aviary);
- any properties not owned and managed by the City of Hamilton (such as lands owned/managed by Royal Botanical Gardens*, Hamilton Conservation Authority (i.e. Confederation Beach Park), Hamilton Wentworth School Board or others);
- any Parks listed below for reasons such as capacity for donation has been met, park is undergoing planning or re-development or reasons stated above.
Ineligible City Parks
| Park Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Battlefield Park | 77 King Street West |
| Bayfront Park (like for like bench swap only, no trees) | 200 Harbour Front Drive |
| Beasley Park | 96 Mary Street |
| 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 |
|
Corktown Park (no trees, no riverside benches) |
175 Ferguson Avenue South |
| Corporal Nathan Cirillo Leash Free Area | 799 Golf Links Road |
| Dieppe Veterans' Memorial Park | 1033 Beach Boulevard |
| Dundurn Park | 600 York Boulevard |
| Durand Park | 250 Park Street South |
| Fieldcote Memorial Park | 64 Sulphur Springs Road |
| Gage Park – Rose Garden (like for like bench swap only, no trees) | 1000 Main Street East |
| Glen Manor - The Veevers Home | 22 Veevers Drive |
| Gore Park | 1 Hughson Street South |
| Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association (during renovations only) | 250 Carleton Street West |
| Hamilton Beach Recreation Trail (Beach Strip) | Confederation Park Area Trail |
| Hamilton Harbour Waterfront Trail (like for like bench swap only, no trees) | Bayfront Park Area Trail |
| Harvey Park | 800 York Blvd. |
| Johnson Tew Park (no trees) | 71 Tews Lane, Greensville |
| King’s Forest Golf Course | 100 Greenhill Avenue |
| Macassa Bay Walkway (like for like bench swap only, no trees) | 102 Harbour Front Drive |
| Mountain Drive Park (during renovation only) | 935 Concession Street |
| Museum of Steam & Technology | 900 Woodward Avenue |
| Pier 4 Park (like for like bench swap only, no trees) | 64 Leander Drive |
| Sam Lawrence Park (during renovation only) | 255 & 371 Concession Street |
| Sherwood Vale Lot | 50 Robinhood Drive, Dundas |
| Turner Park | 344 Rymal Road East |
| Village Green | 291 Lodor Street, Ancaster |
| 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 2744
Email [email protected]
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