Rec programs paused at JC Beemer Park due to safety concerns

The City of Hamilton says the wading pool and pop-up Supie programs have paused at JC Beemer Park due to health and safety concerns for program participants and staff. The city didn’t provide specific information on the safety concerns.

There are a few encampments at the park but the city didn’t tell CHCH News whether that is the safety concern.

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CHCH News spoke to a parent at Powell Park who said she’s afraid to let her kids play there alone because of the encampments. “…like the Supies have to come early and clean up so that the kids can come and play. Every morning they have to come and clean up all this area from drugs and things that people have used.”

The statement from the city reads, “In many cases, City parks are large enough to schedule Recreation programming in green spaces apart from other resident usage, however, it was not possible in this case.”

One parent CHCH News spoke to at JC Beemer Park says it’s safe. “I’ve been here 45 minutes now, haven’t even really seen or talked to anybody. They’re minding their own business over there, the parks over here.”

The City of Hamilton says no other recreation programs have been impacted and they didn’t provide a timeline as to when the activities at JC Beemer Park will resume. City run free programs for children are still available nearby at Powell Park and Belview Park.

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