Ottawa – May 30th, 2016 – Today, the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) announced that Hamilton’s Gage Park was selected as the recipient of the inaugural CSLA Legacy Project Award (2016).
According to Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of the City of Hamilton: “To be the inaugural recipient of the CSLA Legacy Project Award is a great honour and nod to an iconic landmark in Hamilton,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger. “Gage Park is a destination for cultural events that highlight the diversity in our community. The restoration of the fountain along with numerous upgrades preserves the legacy of the park and its’ original designers.”
Gage Park, built in a style reflective of the Canadian City Beautiful movement of the 1920s, is one of Hamilton Ontario’s most iconic, historical and cultural landscapes. Not only has it retained what were forward-thinking concepts when developed in the 1920s, but it has continued to evolve to serve the needs of the community. Components of the park design that were critical to the grand vision are the Great Lawn, the broad meandering walkway system, the relationships of formal and informal spaces, and the creation and preservation of dominant vistas to the Niagara Escarpment.
Gage Park contributes year round in the quality-of-life factor for the adjacent neighbourhoods. It makes the inner-city neighbourhoods more livable, it offers recreation opportunities for at-risk youth, low income children and low-income families, and it provides places where neighbours can feel a sense of community.
“Our community is proud to be home to one of Canada’s best urban parks. Gage Park has a long history of hosting cultural, musical, and community events while offering a quiet escape from urban life right in the heart of Hamilton. We are proud to receive the inaugural CSLA Legacy Award. As Hamiltonians, we continue to grow with Gage Park,” said Hamilton Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Green.
The CSLA Legacy Project Award is intended to recognize distinguished landscape architecture projects which were forward-thinking for their time, contribute significantly to their communities, showed leadership and innovation, and are still relevant examples of excellence in the profession of landscape architecture. This award honours projects which have left and continue to leave a lasting impact on Canada’s landscape. Gage Park is the first project to receive the CSLA’s Legacy Project Award.
The Legacy Project Award will be presented at a gala during the CSLA Congress to be held at the Fort Garry Hotel and Conference Centre in Winnipeg on Saturday, June 25th, 2016.
READ FULL STORY > Designed by renowned landscape architect, Mr. Haig Seferian.
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