Confederation Park

[SteelTown]

Big top coming to Confederation Park?
Circus school wants to stage shows, teach kids

January 12, 2010
Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/703364

There are plans to have the big top join campers, swimmers and picnickers at Confederation Park this summer.

The Zacada Circus School of Stoney Creek wants to set up a circus tent in the Lake Ontario park to house a summer school for kids and five weekend performances that can entertain 500 people per show.

The owners of the Cirque du Soleil-type school, husband and wife Christine Cadeau and Kosta Zakharenko, are looking to raise a tent on the soccer field of the 83-hectare park, which is already home to Wild Waterworks, five food outlets, 50 camping sites, hundreds of picnic tables, batting cages, mini-golf and a climbing wall.

The couple want to operate between May and September and, if successful, one day build a permanent facility in the Van Wagners Beach Road park after 2014.

Zakharenko, who opened the Barton Street and Fruitland Road school with his wife in 2007, outlined his vision last week to the board of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, which runs Confederation Park.

The board approved the idea in principle and many directors expressed excitement at the scheme, which staff said meets plans to redevelop the park under a new master plan.

Negotiations are now under way, including the feasibility and cost of staging the circus. Zakharenko said afterwards it could cost upwards of $1 million to stage the shows.

"I think it's time we invited other groups to share our resources, especially in these economic times," said authority board member Tony Perri.

"I think it's wonderful."

Board chair Chris Firth-Eagland called it "a brilliant opportunity."

Zakharenko, who met his wife while both were performers with Cirque du Soleil, said 15,000 people have passed through the doors of the circus school since it opened in May 2007. He also said the school has staged two shows, for which they sold 2,400 tickets. He said, based on the success of the shows "we decided to go bigger and present to a bigger audience" and developed the idea of using Confederation Park.

He said they have been approached to stage shows in Niagara Falls and Toronto. "We keep coming back," he said. "We're from Hamilton."

Zakharenko was asked about the feasibility of staging a Cirque du Soleil-style show given that one failed in Niagara Falls. Cirque Niagara closed at the end of 2007 after two years. Its backers lost $6.7 million.

He said the Niagara circus was "a very ambitious project." He said its six daily shows were based on reports that 11 million tourists visit Niagara Falls every year, but it did not consider the majority only stay between 45 minutes to two hours. Zakharenko also said only one investor knew how to run a circus and "our company has two owners and we both know how to run a circus."

[SteelTown]

A new path for the park
Overhaul of Confederation property would drop campsites

January 20, 2010
Eric McGuinness
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/708269

Confederation Park's campground would go, but go-karts would stay if a proposed master plan update meets with public approval.

There is also a proposal for a commercial hub featuring a hotel, retail space, skating track and other attractions, but no thought of a football field to replace Ivor Wynne Stadium, an idea city council has ruled out.

Sandy Bell, manager of design and development for the Hamilton Conservation Authority, said the existing 1997-98 master plan needs refreshing.

"We're recognizing this is an important piece of the waterfront of Hamilton, so both the conservation authority and city are jointly part of this master planning for the next 10 to 20 years of how this property will be managed."

Bell said business has been dropping at the 50-site campground, built in the 1960s and in need of upgrades. The authority believes it makes more sense to expand camping at Fifty Point Conservation Area, less than 10 kilometres to the east.

The last master plan called for redevelopment of the land, but nothing has been done.

Ideas being unveiled at an open house from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Lakeland Centre, 180 Van Wagner's Beach Rd., include moving the main entrance to Centennial Parkway, doing away with the gatehouse and eventually replacing the campground with sports fields and a recreation building. The drop-in event will include a presentation at 7 p.m. Those attending will hear suggestions to move go-karting to an expanded Adventure Village and to naturalize the west end of the long, narrow park occupying 83 hectares between the Queen Elizabeth Way and Lake Ontario.

Owned by the city and operated by the authority, the property includes Wild Waterworks with its wave pool and water slides, Lakeland Centre with a viewing tower, restaurant and pool, restaurants Hutch's and Baranga's on the Beach, Lakeland Go-Karts and Adventure Village with miniature golf and batting cages.

Officials estimate 2,000 people a day use the Hamilton Beach Recreational Trail running through the park. Use is expected to increase when a bridge over the QEW extends the Red Hill Trail to the waterfront later this year.

Bell said many of the proposals depend on private investment. Costs have not been estimated.

"We don't have money to develop most of these things. We would need partners interested in running them. It would take a sizeable investment, but we're only at the concept stage. We're going to be a year or two getting it sorted out and looking at sources we can draw from."

[SteelTown]

[SteelTown]

Country's Largest Man-Made Beach Sports Complex Launches in Hamilton on Canada Day Weekend
Plans to Become Largest in North America by Next Summer

http://www.marketwire.com/press-rele...nd-1530246.htm



HAMILTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 22, 2011) - The recreational sports and social scene is about to be revolutionized in the Golden Horseshoe with the largest man-made beach sports complex in Canada being launched on the Hamilton waterfront during Canada Day Weekend.

Not So Pro Sports and Sandbox Sports and Entertainment are teaming up to provide co-ed sports leagues, tournaments, events and entertainment right on the water at Confederation Park in Hamilton.

The beach sports and entertainment complex will initially include 12 beach volleyball courts (24 courts with lights by next season) as well as 3 soccer/ultimate frisbee fields.

The facilities will be open to the public to enjoy for free on the July 1st long weekend.

"We're bringing world class recreational fun to the beach in Hamilton," said Not So Pro president John Morrison, who anticipates plenty of interest not only in Hamilton but in Burlington, Oakville, Cambridge and Niagara as well.

Moving forward, the complex will host multiple sports, multiple nights, multiple leagues and divisions, tournaments, corporate events, kids' camps and after school programs. Leagues will include Beach Volleyball and Beach Soccer as well as Grass Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee.

All ages and levels are welcome. Evening co-ed adult leagues start July 11th and registration is already open for teams and for individuals. For more information, visit www.notsopro.com or call toll free at 1-866-NOTSOPRO.

Confederation Park is located on the shore of Lake Ontario at the base of Centennial Parkway and the QEW. The beach sandbox will be located between Wild Water Works and the Adventure Zone.

[thistleclub]

Hamilton studies new facility at Confederation Park for pickleball
(Stoney Creek News, Kevin Werner, Mar 8 2016)

Hamilton staff will be considering whether to build a new facility at Confederation Park to accommodate one of the fastest growing sports in the city and across the country.

Jeff Morgan, president of Pickleball Hamilton, said he contacted Ward 5 councillor Chad Collins about building a new outdoor facility for pickleball at Confederation Park, which is undergoing an $80-million, multi-year renovation.

Confederation Park would be the ideal location for what could be 12 courts to attract people not only from Hamilton, but across southern Ontario, said Morgan.

“The sport is a great fit for everybody,” said Morgan. “It crosses all cultures and demographics barriers. There are no boundaries to people who want to play it.”

He said pickleball, which was created in the 1960s, but has been the past 15 years that the sport has exploded in popularity, is played by people from age 11 to 81.

Pickleball Hamilton has about 120 members, said Morgan, and there are up to another 250 people, not affiliated with any organization that play the game at various facilities across the city, such as Glendale High School, Delta High School, Ancaster’s Rotary Centre, Dundas Lions Memorial Community Centre, Huntington Park Recreation Centre, Valley Park Recreation Centre, Sackville Hill Seniors Centre and Winona Recreation Centre.

“It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” said Morgan.

He said recently St. Thomas, Ontario approved spending about $850,000 for a combined tennis and pickleball facility.

City recreation staff said the cost to build up to eight pickleball courts would be about $200,000.

The dimensions for a court are 20-feet wide by 40’ in length, said staff. They stated a standard tennis court can be converted into four pickleball courts.

Hamilton recreation staff open in July 2015 the first outdoor pickleball courts on what was formerly tennis courts at Hill Park Recreation Centre.

“We have a lot of indoor facilities, but not too many outdoor courts for pickleball,” said Collins, acknowledging the sport’s popularity in Hamilton.

Collins and Morgan said the idea would be to construct the courts as part of the Confederation Park, renovation, including the creation of a sports complex where plans are already being design to build a senior cricket pitch and soccer field. Two proposed multi-use courts and an intermediate soccer and junior critical facilities have also been considered north of the senior cricket pitch. The pickleball courts would be located where the multi-use courts are planned to be located, said Collins.

Morgan said the idea would be to eventually cover the outdoor pickleball courts to allow people to use the facility year-round. He suggested the facility should be fenced, with a wind screen and have an attached clubhouse.

“This would be new and exciting for pickleball players and Hamilton,” said Morgan.

Hamilton recreation staff will be reviewing the idea of a pickleball facility at Confederation Park, including potential cost implications.

[mattgrande]

That's made me wonder something... Does Hamilton have a cricket field (pitch?) anywhere in the city?

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

That's made me wonder something... Does Hamilton have a cricket field (pitch?) anywhere in the city?

I think they have two, one Churchill Park in Westdale and the other at Mohawk Park on the mountain.

I know the high schools have a Cricket league so they must play somewhere.

[Hawrylyshyn]

"City investments to help Confederation Park reach its full potential

The redevelopment will take shape over the next 20 years at a cost of more than $40 million."

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/h...tial-1.3716762

[lucasmascotto]

[SteelTown]

With the future Confederation Park GO Station we could make Confederation Park our version of the Exhibition Place, a mixed-use district. Would be nice to build an exhibition hall, so that it can host various events all season.

[Beedok]

There's definitely enough land to still have lots of greenery and do that. Hope it can happen.

[Hawrylyshyn]

Click picture for link

Ball’s been pitched for new sports complex at Confederation Beach Park

Bidding in play for first phase of construction that includes cricket, multi-purpose fields, pickleball courts


"City officials say a ball has been thrown for the new sports complex at Confederation Beach Park.

Landscape architectural services supervisor Lawrence Stasiuk said bidding is underway for the first phase of construction for the project.

"The tender was released on March 14 and will close on April 5," he said.

The city is building the sports facility at the east end of the park on the former campground site.

The first stage will include the construction of a regulation-sized cricket field, multi-purpose field, 12 pickleball courts, a driveway and half of a planned parking lot.

The approximate cost of the work is $3.5 million.

Stasiuk said he believes the tender will be awarded quickly.

The hope is to get the successful contractor on site by the end of April, he said.

"We see that the components we're scheduling to be finished by the end of November, but because of weather and other factors, there may be some smaller works that carry over to the spring," Stasiuk said, adding the construction will not encumber public use of the trail along the waterfront. "The intent is that these facilities will be built and ready for use in May of 2020."

To make way for the sports park, the central building on the old campground site was demolished in 2017.

Hydro and servicing lines were also removed.

Some trees were cleared as well.

Stasiuk said the city is sorting out the details for the second phase.

It's an "expensive phase" and includes the construction of a new field house and parks maintenance building and yard, as well as the renovation of an existing gatehouse, he said.

Stasiuk said it also involves the development of a natural-themed play area, the rest of the slotted parking lot and additional trails and walkways.

The sports complex is part of a long-term, more than $40-million master plan to enhance the underutilized 93-hectare beachfront land.

The hope is to eventually include a central commercial village, improved trails and boardwalks, more trees, public art and other infrastructure improvements.

Ward 5 Coun. Chad Collins could not be reached for comments by press deadline.

He has called the sports facility "exciting" in the past and said sports groups, especially Hamilton cricket clubs, have been "anxious" to have the new pitch built at Confederation Beach Park."

[king10]

Great. Thank you for sharing.

I believe this is beyond the proposal stage. City has funded it and issues its RFPs. All thats left is to award the tender and begin construction on phase 1.

We also discussed this project in the Confederation Park thread back in 2016. Perhaps this thread can be merged with that one as this title is ambiguous.