The 200th year anniversary of the Battle of Stoney Creek will be taking place in 2013 in Battlefield Park.  The park will play host to a number of historically related events celebrating this significant turning point in the North American theatre of the War of 1812.  In preparation of the event, the City's Public Works Department is undertaking a master plan review of the buildings, programming and site at Battlefield Park.  The master plan review will address the goals of the earlier plans and provide detailed planning for new facilities and a phased implementation strategy with associated costs and revenue opportunities. 

The review will focus on the conservation, interpretation and presentation of all the elements of Battlefield Park and its significant historic layers.  The City is in the process of purchasing 95 King Street West, Stoney Creek.  When purchased, the building will be demolished to permit an enhanced landscape treatment at this location.  For more information visit the City's website at www.myhamilton.ca. 

Pacific Paving Ltd. continues to make progress with the Phase 1 redevelopment of Rosedale Park.  The City has allocated million to this project that includes the installation of 3 ball diamonds (two of which will be lit), including backstops, line and outfield fencing, and warning tracks, player and spectator seating, park road extension, two new parking lots, walkways, subsurface drainage, surface grading and sodding of ball fields, naturalized planting areas and restoration plantings in cooperation with the Red Hill Valley Project.  The work must be complete by August 28, 2009. 

Phase 2 work will focus on the redevelopment of the fourth ball diamond over the first Greenhill CSO tank, contingent on a structural assessment of the CSO tank's structural soundness to accommodate construction activities.  Phase 2 may also include a play area in the vicinity of the 3 ball diamonds installed as Phase 1. 

In May, the City of Hamilton applied for Federal and Provincial infrastructure money to rehabilitate aging municipal capital infrastructure.  I'm pleased to advise that our application for funding related to renovations for Sir Wilfrid Laurier Recreation Centre was approved.  The new facility will provide a modern, accessible, high quality centre for the community to enjoy and will support the health and wellness programming for children, youth, families and older adults.

The $1.5 million plan includes undertaking necessary and desired upgrades, capital repairs and accessibility improvements to the centre including: replacement of pool filtration system, repairs and repaving of a portion of the parking lot, replace HVAC system, dehumidification system in pool and install air conditioning for community roooms and administration area, exterior wall work and interior upgrades to pool, remove ceiling acoustic barrier and replace ceramic tiles in pool changerooms, replace fittings and equipment in pool, new fire panel and lighting systems to ensure the recreation centre has its own system.  The work will commence in 2009, and is required to be completed by March 2011. 

The lower Davis Creek Flooding and Erosion Control Environmental Assessment Project began in the fall of 2008.  Davis Creek flows from the escarpment and runs northerly adjacent to Quigley Road and south of King Street East.  The scope of work includes flooding and erosion control of the Davis Creek watershed below the escarpment and considers the impact on the flows in the entire watershed area.

Many residents who back onto the creek have witnessed severe erosion over the past decade.  The final report will recommend erosion control measures to stabilize the creek banks, to permanently resolve the longstanding problem. I've been advised by City staff that a Public Consultation Centre will be held to seek input from the public and other stakeholders, and we'll be initiating a project webpage on the City's website closer to the date of the public meeting.