A long-awaited makeover of Hamilton, Ont.’s popular Gage Park greenhouse has officially broken ground. The $4.6-million renovation of the sub-tropical greenhouse was finally sealed thanks to an 11th hour donation from a local charitable organization.
The $4.6-million renovation of the sub-tropical greenhouse was finally sealed thanks to an 11th hour donation from a local charitable organization.
"In early May, the city received a generous donation from the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation to support construction of the tropical greenhouse at Gage Park," said LeAnn Seely, City of Hamilton manager of forestry and horticulture, environmental services.
Crews from St. Catharines-based Newman Bros. Limited will begin with the demolition of the existing tropical greenhouse, which was constructed in 1975.
"The existing greenhouse will be demolished and a new structure, almost double in size, will be erected in its place. The tropical greenhouse structure will be 13,600 square feet in size with community gathering space, fish ponds and exotic free-flying birds within the controlled environment," said Seely.
When asked why the need for the renovation, Seely said the existing building is deteriorating due to lifecycle decline and structural failure.
The new greenhouse has been on the table since 2010 in the Gage Park Master Plan, with one of the primary goals being to meet the needs of the community.
"The newly designed Gage Park greenhouse will be a regional focal point located in the heart of our city. We’re building a premier facility where learning from the wonders of nature and building community are combined in the best urban green space in Ontario. The Gage Park greenhouse renovation represents growing interest and investment in the renewal of Ward 3," said Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Green in a statement.
Other highlights of the Gage Park Master Plan outlined in a report from the public works department are:
• strengthening the elegance of the historic water features, ornamental flower beds and the overall park geometry;
• introducing buildings for the growing Children’s Museum, tropical greenhouse and aviary, using green building technologies; and
• finding creative solutions to keep stormwater runoff within the park, and help mitigate flooding issues in the adjacent Rothsay community.
The new greenhouse was designed to be taller and more interactive, accessible and visitor friendly. Its extended height will make way for the proposed colony of finches and for subtropical plants that can stretch up to 10 metres in height, to avoid regular trimmings.
"Gage Park was designed in the early 1920s during the ‘City Beautiful’ movement. It includes an eye-catching fountain, flower gardens and walkways against the stunning backdrop of the Niagara Escarpment," said Seely.
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