Upcoming Town Hall – June 10th, 2026
Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety Measures Pending in Valley Park Neighbourhood
For the past 12 months, I have been working with Transportation Department Management on concerns raised by several residents about traffic calming needs and pedestrian safety in the Valley Park area. Below is an email from our Manager of Operations that responds to all of these issues.
Manager of Transportation Operations Responds to Residents About Pending Upgrades
“Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding roadway safety in the Valley Park area. As Councillor Clark mentioned, staff have been reviewing roadway safety conditions in the area and advancing a number of initiatives intended to improve safety, particularly for vulnerable road users.
There is currently a significant amount of roadway safety and pedestrian infrastructure work either underway, planned, or progressing through design within the broader Valley Park area. This includes several improvements scheduled for implementation in 2026, along with larger reconstruction and crossing enhancement projects planned for future years.
While some of the larger infrastructure projects require additional engineering, funding approvals, coordination, and construction planning before implementation, a substantial amount of technical and engineering work has already been completed to assess conditions, identify improvements, and move projects toward implementation. Several upgrades are already proceeding this year.
I understand that from a resident perspective it can sometimes appear that progress is slow, particularly when concerns relate to roadway safety and driver behaviour experienced on a daily basis. However, there is a considerable amount of roadway safety work planned within the Valley Park area which reflects ongoing coordination between Transportation staff, Councillor Clark’s office, and concerns that have been raised by residents over time.
To help provide context regarding the amount of work occurring in the area, I have included a map below identifying planned and upcoming roadway safety and pedestrian infrastructure projects within the Valley Park community and surrounding area. Each project has been numbered for convenience, and additional information regarding the scope and anticipated timing of the work is provided beneath the map.
Please note that the numbering does not reflect the order of implementation, but rather generally follows the geographic location of each project within the area.
Collectively, these projects represent a broad package of roadway safety, pedestrian connectivity, and crossing improvements within the Valley Park area.
The following outlines roadway safety and pedestrian infrastructure projects currently planned, underway, or progressing through design within the Valley Park area:
- Valley Park / Marston Street / Pembroke Street intersection:
• The intersection of Marston Street and the Valley Park entrance/Pembroke Street is planned to be upgraded to a signalized intersection as part of the future partial reconstruction of Paramount Drive. The project is currently progressing through preliminary design and is anticipated to proceed to detailed engineering in 2026/2027, with construction currently targeted for 2028. In addition to the traffic signal installation, the broader project is expected to include roadway and sidewalk enhancements along Paramount Drive within the area.
- Paramount Drive – East Hamilton Trail Loop crossing:
• The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing of the East Hamilton Trail Loop is planned to be upgraded to a formal controlled crossing, anticipated to be a mid-block pedestrian traffic signal. This work is planned in coordination with the future Paramount Drive reconstruction project currently targeted for 2028.
- Marston Street – East Hamilton Trail Loop crossing:
• The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing of the East Hamilton Trail Loop is scheduled to be upgraded to a pedestrian crossover (PXO) in 2026.
- Isaac Brock Drive – pedestrian/school crossing:
• The existing raised pedestrian crossover will be upgraded in 2026 to include push-buttons and overhead rapid amber flashing beacons to further enhance pedestrian visibility and driver awareness.
- Winterberry Drive – East Hamilton Trail Loop crossing:
• The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing of the East Hamilton Trail Loop is scheduled to be upgraded to a pedestrian crossover (PXO) in 2026.
- Highland Road West – Eramosa Karst Trail entrance:
• The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing at the Eramosa Karst Trail entrance is scheduled to be upgraded to a pedestrian crossover (PXO) in 2026.
- Winterberry Drive – neighbourhood connectivity to Heritage Green:
• A future controlled pedestrian crossing between the residential neighbourhood and Heritage Green commercial area is currently being advanced through feasibility review by the City’s integrated active transportation team. The crossing is anticipated to ultimately include a controlled pedestrian crossing, likely in the form of a mid-block pedestrian traffic signal, intended to improve broader east-west pedestrian and cycling connectivity within the area.
Regarding the intersection of Paramount Drive and Marston Street specifically, staff have been actively working with Councillor Clark’s office over an extended period regarding roadway safety concerns raised by residents in the area. Those discussions and reviews have helped inform both the longer-term improvement plans outlined above, as well as additional interim measures currently being examined by my roadway safety team.
While the future reconstruction and crossing enhancements identified above will provide more substantial long-term improvements, staff have also continued reviewing opportunities to improve safety conditions in the near term. As part of that work, a stop sign compliance study will be undertaken next week to formally document driver behaviour concerns at the intersection. This information, along with previous observations and resident feedback received through the Councillor’s office and directly from residents, will help support discussions with Hamilton Police Services regarding potential targeted enforcement initiatives.
In parallel, staff are also reviewing several additional near-term enhancement options intended to improve safety conditions at the intersection while the broader reconstruction and crossing projects continue progressing through design and implementation.
Roadway safety in the Valley Park area continues to be an active focus for Transportation staff, and the projects and actions outlined above represent a significant amount of planned roadway safety and pedestrian infrastructure investment within the community.”
Spring Report 2026
Ward 9 homes are now receiving hard copies of the Spring Report 2026. My newsletters are well received by residents, who like to be fully aware of municipal issues and outcomes. It is my way of keeping you informed.
Temporary Lane Occupancy – Fifth Rd, Regional Road 20 to Powerline Rd
Please be advised of an upcoming temporary lane occupancy on Fifth Road between Regional Road 20 and Powerline Road for asphalt milling and resurfacing (map)
Where: Fifth Road between Regional Road 20 and Powerline Road
When: Starting Wednesday, June 10th, 2026, from 7 AM to 5 PM, Daily for two weeks.
Expect minor delays through this area during operations. Local access will be maintained at all times.
This work is dependent on the weather.
Lane Occupancies and Road Closures can be found at http://hamilton.ca/roadclosures
Paramount Park Playground Replacement
Please be advised that the Paramount Park Play Structure replacement– ‘Play your Way’ community engagement survey will be active until June 22, 2026.
The City is planning to replace the playground at Paramount Park, located at 1170 Paramount Drive (Ward 9) in Hamilton’s Albion neighbourhood. The park includes soccer fields, a baseball diamond, walking trails, open grass areas and a playground.
The existing playground features a combined junior and senior play structure and swing sets. It has provided families and neighbours with a place to play, connect, and enjoy the outdoors. Now it’s time to reimagine the space to meet new needs of the community.
Why This Matters
Local parks and playgrounds are an important part of every neighbourhood. They support healthy, active living, create spaces for connection, and help build a sense of community. When residents help shape these spaces, the result is a park that reflects the people who use it, one that is more welcoming, inclusive, and well used.
How to Get Involved
This spring (2026), we’ll be launching an online survey to hear from you. We want to know what kinds of playground features you would like to see in the new design.
Everyone is welcome to take part, children, youth, parents, grandparents, caregivers, and anyone who uses the park.
How We Will Use Your Input
Your feedback will help shape the design of the new playground. The ideas and suggestions you share will be reviewed and used to guide the final design plans. Please take the survey through the following link:
https://engage.hamilton.ca/pyw-paramount-park
What We Are Looking to Learn
We want to learn:
- What play equipment or features are most important to you
- What makes a great playground for your family or community
- Any ideas or themes you’d like to see included
Your ideas are key to this project, we want the new Paramount Park playground to reflect the needs and wishes of the people who use it most (and for the future use by the community).
What’s the story with the city’s grass cutting ?
City grass is up to Councillor Brad Clark’s knee near St. Paul and Billy Green elementary schools May 27, 2026
GRASS CUTTING REDUCES THROUGH STRONG MAYOR BUDGET
The Mayor’s 2026 Budget, under strong mayor powers, presented several cost saving measures including a 25% reduction in city grass cutting on public rights-of-way and boulevards, as well as naturalizing many parks and parkettes. The projected savings was $105,000 by reducing grass cutting on city land during off-peak growing periods.
Councillor Tom Jackson (Ward 6) moved an amending motion to maintain the grass cutting citing past experiences with similar motions. Councillor Brad Clark seconded the motion objecting that grass cutting is a basic service and reducing the cycles will only create challenges with high grass near well maintained private homes. It will also increase risk of more tick bites with people and pets walking by this uncut grass. Staff assured Councillors that they will retain discretion to add cuttings as required. Further, they stated that they will manage cuttings based on the season. In other words, their plan was to reduce cutting in later summer and fall when grass growth is dormant from heat and lack of rainwater. Council defeated our amendment.
Naturalization of parks, parkettes and city lands
There was another component of the Mayor’s Budget reducing grass cutting through a naturalizing process. In Ward 9, this reduction affected Albion Estates Park, Aylmer Parkette and Tapleytown Men’s Club Park. I publicly objected to the inclusion of these parks in such cost cutting schemes. Subsequently, I met with the Director of Environmental Services to discuss the ramifications for residents as these parks are a part of the social fabric in Ward 9. I asked staff to review the decision and visit the properties wherein they would actually see the parks rather than relying on a desktop review. The Director later indicated that they would continue maintaining Ward 9 parks as they were relatively small in size and well utilized.
Further clarification from staff provided to Council
Q1. What changes are being proposed for grass cutting in urban right-of-way areas?
Staff Answer: The City is adjusting its grass cutting schedule within municipal right-of-way areas, which are maintained by contracted services overseen by the Transportation Division of Public Works. The new approach keeps the current cutting cycle during the spring and early summer when grass grows most rapidly but reduces the frequency later in the season when grass growth slows or becomes dormant. This means fewer cuts in late summer and fall, reflecting periods when mowing has limited visual or functional benefit. The annual cutting frequency will decrease by 25% from 12 to 9 cycles, resulting in a budget savings of $105,000. The City can add extra cuts if unusual weather leads to sustained grass growth. These changes are designed to maintain roadway safety, visibility, and urban appearance.
Residents React
Residents of Ward 9, who are usually calm and respectful, exploded in anger and frustration. Many residents highlighted the double standard with the city enforcing a grass cutting bylaw on residents’ properties while excusing themselves from the same standard. To summarize residents’ feelings, they were beyond angry. Coincidently, they received their tax bills in the same week when the reduction in services was most visible. I received calls asking why the grass was not cut. I read many well-written emails outlining concerns, risks and impacts. Some resident’s highlighting that they were trying to sell their homes and the visual of such long grass scared some buyers away. Finally, I would diplomatically describe the social media posts as candid and honest expressing their complete disappointment in the city’s lack of follow through and their promises to “keep the current cutting cycle during the spring and early summer when grass grows most rapidly but reduces the frequency later in the season when grass growth slows or becomes dormant”.
Councillor Clark’s Advocacy
I spent a couple of days reaching out to our management team and members of the senior leadership team. In chronological order, I emailed the General Manager of Public Works, I called the Manager of Roadway Maintenance, and the Director of Transportation. I met with the Acting City Manager and the General Manager of Finance. As a result of this advocacy, road crews were redirected to Ward 9 to cut the grass on municipal rights-of-way and boulevards.
I thanked all of them for their attention to this matter. They committed to complete the work. I took the opportunity to discuss the need to collect grass clippings as the volume is too high for efficient decomposition, it is a trip hazard for sports play, and quite frankly it doesn’t look good. They agreed to look after it.
Update
I just spoke with the Manager of Roadway Maintenance and he confirmed my understanding that the grass cutting in the suburbs is done by contractors and not by city staff. The public rights-of-way and boulevards on Paramount Drive south of Mud Street were cut. But the standard of care is unacceptable. It appears as though the mower operator missed sections or the grass was so thick it was not cut and mulched. Regardless it is certainly not up to the standard expected by Ward 9 residents. It needs to be cleaned up.
I also informed him that they have still missed many boulevards including the rights-of-ways on Mud Street and Paramount Drive north of Mud Street. He confirmed to me once again that they are cutting the grass based on the reduction in service from 12 to 9 cuttings per year. I reminded him that staff made it clear during budget deliberations that they have the discretion to add cuttings as required and would reduce cuttings in the dormant periods in the fall. He confirmed my understanding and stated that management is meeting tomorrow to address this issue.
Brad Clark Report 
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