Gage Parking

City cashing in on Gage Park(ing) while lacking supp ort of festivals




Peggy Chapman
The Bay Observer

Every community loves their summer festivals and Hamilton is no different. The Festival of Friends is arguably Steel City’s most famous and brings in people from the USA and abroad all flocking to Gage Park to see the big name musicians play and to peruse the unique vendors’ wares. All this entertainment in our historic park, for free. Well, except for the many who will face parking tickets by city bylaw officers. The festival’s Loren Lieberman is perplexed and frustrated by the city’s move to restrict parking on the side streets east of Gage Park. “We were not consulted about this, and question the reasoning,” said Lieberman. He met with city staff to ask why the parking restriction was happening, and to seek a permanent solution to the parking congestion faced by festival goers each year. “Each year, the festival grows in size and popularity,” said Lieberman. “We have between 30,000 and 40,000 people in that park for the weekend and many of them travel from far distances – by car.” The ward councillor, Bernie Morelli told the Observer the parking ban is a trial balloon to help residents in the park vicin- ity deal with the annual onslaught of people taking up the street parking and blocking off driveways. “I had complaints from residents on the east side of the park so we will start there, and see how it goes this year,” said Morelli. “If it works well, we might expand it to the west side streets of the park too.” Said Lieberman, “What this will do is force even more people to drive around searching for parking on the west side of the park – where the homes have fewer driveways and already face more street parking congestion compared to the east side.” “This is almost forcing people to park illegally or... maybe just give up and drive away. That’s a shame considering this is one of the country’s most successful outdoor venues. Is this the message we give to tourists to our city?” Councillor Morelli admits that while complaints are not overwhelming; more residents are complaining every year. While the Observer was on Rosslyn Street taking a photo of the parking bylaw signs, a few homeowners discussed the issue. “We all love the festival,” said one owner out raking his lawn. “But it isn’t fair that we can’t get into our driveways after coming home from grocery shopping because people are blocking it.” Morelli feels the festival should see this as a good thing. “What this will do is encourage people to park in the paid parking lot of the park,” he said. Lieberman laughed at that. “If you are coming down Lawrence Road to attend the festival, the wait and crowding to get into the that ONE entrance is not practical for most people. Plus, it somehow takes away from the idea of a “free” event.” He also feels the councillor is exaggerating the amount of complaints. “Staff told me he was reacting to a public demand and outcry, but that doesn’t really seem to be the case,” Lieberman argued. “This smells of an election-year attempt by the councillor.” Since the bylaw came into effect last month, hundreds of tickets have already been issued for attendees to the Canada Day celebration and It’s Your Festival – both held in Gage Park. Morelli wouldn’t confirm how many complaints he’s received but felt it was enough to try the new parking restriction, but Paul Tetley, a candidate running against him this year is siding with the Festival of Friends. “Street parking in the neighbourhoods surrounding Gage Park and Ivor Wynne Stadium is a complex issue that frequently causes resident stress during Ti-Cat Games, and Gage Park Festivals,” said Tetley. “For over 30 years the neighbourhoods have successfully dealt with these parking stresses. Now, in an election year, Councillor Morelli is supporting a ‘quick fix’ plan to address Festival of Friends parking in only one easterly neighbourhood adjacent to Gage Park.” He feels the best way to address and alleviate parking stress in these areas of Ward 3 is to develop a comprehensive parking plan for the entire area. A plan that includes parking for Ivor Wynne, Gage Park Festivals, includes the integration of HSR shuttle buses, while addressing on-street parking issues with parking enforcement and event exemptions for all neighbourhoods. The value of the festival to the city was underlined by a new title sponsorship deal struck with this year TD Bank. “I’m so thrilled to see the Festival of Friends receive this kind of national support from a huge sponsor like this,” said Lieberman, who, when questioned about the future of the Festival of Friends at Gage Park, admitted he is being courted by other areas in the city to host the event. Residents of the area told the Observer they love the festival and take pride in the event being hosted at Gage Park but they also hope there can be a reasonable solution to their parking issues. Lieberman also warns that the parking issue will be compounded by the Tiger Cat game on Saturday night. “Game goers tend to park on the west side (of the park) as it is, so with the east streets being restricted, it’s going to be an ugly traffic situation.” Lieberman suggests to those who plan to attend the Festival (beginning Friday August 6th), “Come early to get your parking. We will be starting at 6:30pm so head here right after work.” For more information about the TD Festival of Friends, go to creative arts. on.ca, and remember, it’s free. Well, if you don’t count the parking tickets.

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