Event Planning Information
Event Locations
The City of Hamilton has hundreds of parks that are used annually by event organizers. Some are suitable for major events and have amenities such as electricity and washrooms while others have few amenities and are intended for smaller community gatherings.
Any gathering where 20 or more people are expected requires a permit to use the park. Permits can be obtained from the City’s Recreation Division by completing an application.
Locates are required for any staking or digging in City parks. Utility owned lines can be located through Ontario One Call for free. City owned lines must also be located but are not covered by Ontario One Call. City owned lines (e.g. water, hydro) must be located from a 3rd party provider for a fee. Any damage to City property as a result of not obtaining locates is the responsibility of the event organizers. Superficial stabilizers are highly recommended (e.g. weights, sandbags, etc.)
Search for all parks by location or by specific amenities by visiting Park Finder
Popular Park Locations
Located on the waterfront at 200 Harbour Front Drive by Bay Street North, connected to Pier 4 Park by the Macassa Bay walkway.
Bayfront Park Bookable Areas Map
Bayfront Park Features & Services Map
Park Features & Services
- Total park size is 16 hectares/40 acres
- Expansive green space area
- Multi-use asphalt pathway 1.5km in length by 6m wide (part of the Waterfront Trail) provides barrier-free access to most areas
- Potable water building located on grass area of the park’s north end. Event organizer responsible for bringing a Food Grade freshwater drinking hose to hook up to the building.
- 6 electrical boxes throughout the park, each with 4 outlets, 110 volt/15AMP
- 30 picnic tables, additional can be ordered upon request
- Washroom stalls at 3 locations. Bayfront parking lot building has 1 men’s stall, 1 women’s stall. There are 2 portable washrooms on the Waterfront Trail, both are wheelchair accessible
- Washroom hours of operation: portable washrooms in place all year available 24/7. Washroom building is open 7:30am to 10pm, 7 days a week during summer months (mid-May to mid-October). Closed in winter
- 250 parking spaces. Boat launch parking spaces has an additional 38 regular parking spaces, plus 30 boat parking spaces
Features that are not bookable and must remain open to the public
- Parking spaces
- Waterfront Trail and boat launch ramp - Except Canada Day July 1 Celebration since part of the trail and the boat ramp are closed to protect the public from the fireworks fall out zone
Located in a residential neighbourhood at 71 Cross Street, close to the Dundas downtown core.
Dundas Driving Park Bookable Areas Map
Dundas Driving Park Features & Services Map
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 10.6 hectares/26.8 acres
- 4 baseball diamonds, 1 with lights
- 5 sheltered picnic pavilions each with potable water available by a faucet and electricity (1 outlet 15 AMP/4 plugs, 110v outlet)
- 60 picnic tables
- 20 public washroom stalls located inside 2 buildings, one located near the wading pool, the other located beside the ice rink. Winter and summer hours of operation are 7am to 10 pm
- 116 parking spaces located along the paved oval ring road that surrounds the park
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Playgrounds
- Spray pad
- Wading pool
- Ice/roller blading rink
- Parking spaces.
For information about other park features:
- Lawn bowling courts, contact the Dundas Lawn Bowls Club at 905-627-3911.
- Tennis courts, contact the Dundas Tennis Club at 905-627-0317.
Located in a historic residential area at 1000 Main Street East in the city's Delta West neighbourhood.
Gage Park Features & Services Map
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 28.8 hectares/ 71 acres
- Large amount of open green space
- George R. Robinson Bandshell
- Scenic walking trails
- 3 baseball diamonds
- Potable water available at washroom buildings adjacent to the spray pad/wading pool location and near the G.R. Robinson Bandshell.
- 25 electrical supply locations listed here
- 4 picnic areas
- 30 picnic tables (additional tables more can be brought in at a cost)
- 150 parking spaces
- Washroom stalls at 3 locations
- Near Bandshell - Men’s 3 stalls, Women’s 5 stalls
- Near spray pad - Men’s 1 stall, Women’s 1 stall.
- Near Baseball Diamonds - Men’s 1 stall, Women’s 1 stall.
- Washroom hours of operation - Bandshell and spray pad washrooms are open 7:30am to 8:00pm 7 days a week during summer months (mid-May to mid-October). Closed in winter. (Baseball diamond washrooms open during baseball only.)
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Playgrounds
- Wading pool
- Spray pad
- Bike pump track
- Parking spaces
For information about other park features:
The Hamilton Veterans Committee oversees military remembrance and commemoration activities on behalf of the City of Hamilton and advises the City on the respectful treatment of memorials and cenotaphs. Veterans Place at Gore Park is one of them.
Prospective renters of Gore Park, including the pedestrianized area on the south side of the park, between Hughson and John Streets, are asked to follow certain guidelines with respect to the area of Veterans’ Place during rental events (Veterans’ Place is the area inside the red lines on the Google image below):
- Do not park cars, trucks, trailers or vendor vehicles on paved areas inside the area of Veterans’ Place
- Do not use the area as a depot for the storage of event supplies
- Do not locate entertainments, stages, floors, or vendors within this area, or tents associated with them
- Do not place any equipment at, on, or adjacent to the cenotaph
Located on the waterfront at 64 Leander Drive near Bay Street North; connected to Bayfront Park by the Macassa Bay walkway.
Pier 4 Park Bookable Areas Map
Pier 4 Park Features & Services Map
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 3.2 hectares/7.9 acres
- Open lawn area
- Curved boardwalk over water, with gazebo and benches
- Small, man-made beach
- Multi-use asphalt pathway (part of the Waterfront Trail) 349 metres in length and 4 metres wide which provides barrier-free access to all areas of the park.
- Potable water available via a tap on the outside of the Gartshore -Thomson Building
- 9 electrical boxes located throughout the park with 19 outlets 15 AMP/ 44 plugs and 2 outlets 30 AMP each with 1 plug
- 10 picnic tables, additional can be ordered upon request
- 3 public washroom stalls located inside the Gartshore -Thomson Building. Washroom hours of operation.
- Summer hours: 7:30 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week.
- Winter hours: 8 am to 2:30 pm Monday to Friday, closed weekends.
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Waterfront Trail
- Children’s tugboat play structure
- Spray pad
- Parking spaces.
- 50 parking spaces
Located at 1199 Upper Wentworth Street, south of Limeridge Road East
McQuesten Park Bookable Areas Map
McQuesten Park Features & Services Map
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 13.2 hectares/ 32.5 acres
- Lots of open lawn area
- Multi-use asphalt pathway
- 1 baseball diamond
- 1 soccer field
- 2 multi-purpose courts
- 2 potable water hookups, one outside the men’s washroom (NE corner) and one on front of building (NW corner)
- Electricity located on the west wall of the building adjacent to parking spaces: 4 plugs, 110 v /15 AMP and 2 plugs, 220 v /20 AMPS
- Washrooms located in building (men’s washroom 1 stall, 1 urinal; ladies’ washroom 2 stalls). Hours of operation from May to October 7am - 11pm
- 100 parking spaces
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Playground
- Parking spaces
- Multi-purpose courts
Located at 200 Hamilton Street in Waterdown.
Waterdown Memorial Park Bookable Areas Map
Waterdown Memorial Park Features & Services Map
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 7.2 hectares/17.7 acres
- Large green space
- Multi-use asphalt pathway
- Pavilion sun shelter/picnic area, 30’ wide x 50’ long, with 10 picnic tables
- 4 baseball diamonds, 1 with lights
- Tobogganing hill which runs from mid-December until the end of March (weather dependent)
- Potable water available by 1 faucet located on the exterior building in metal box. Parks staff need to open the box for water to be accessed
- 1 electrical outlet 110V located on outside of the community building
- Washrooms located in community building adjacent to skate loop (men’s washroom 1 stall, 2 urinals; ladies’ washroom 3 stalls; 1 wheelchair accessible washroom.) Hours of operation from May to October, 8am until 8pm
- 143 parking spaces
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Playground
- Spray pad
- Skateboard park
- Rotary ice skating and rollerblading loop
- Parking spaces
Frequently Asked Questions for Hosting Events in City Parks
How much does it cost to rent a park/portion of a park?
Council approves user fees for City services every year.
| Park Rentals | Fee (+ tax) |
|---|---|
| Park (per booking, per day) | $122.69 |
| Park Premium (per booking, per day) | $400.00 |
| Pavilion (per day) | $87.12 |
| Sports Field - Class A (per hour) | $44.82 |
| Sports Field - Class B (per hour) | $31.13 |
| Sports Field - Class C (per hour) | $5.64 |
| Artificial Turf (per hour) | $151.66 |
View the full list of Council-approved user fees for 2022
Will City staff be available to assist with my event?
No, City staff will not be onsite to assist with your event unless staffing has been pre-arranged and paid for. Events expecting more than 10,000 people per day will be required to hire staff. You will be contacted by Parks if staffing is identified as a requirement for your event.
I want extra garbage cans and/or picnic tables at my event. Are they available?
Extra garbage cans and/or picnic tables may be available upon request for an extra fee. If you’ve determined that there aren’t enough garbage cans or picnic tables at the park that you are renting, you can request additional supplies. If available, Parks staff will deliver the supplies and we will invoice you.
Can washrooms in parks be used for my event?
Washroom facilities in parks are available for all park users. However, if your event will have more than 200 attendees, event organizers are required to rent portable toilets to supplement on-site washrooms. In addition, event organizers should be aware that on-site washrooms will be closed each evening at 8:00pm.
Is power (electricity) available at all parks?
No, access to electricity is not available at all parks. Additionally, power is not always operational even when it is available. Event organizers should be aware that generators may be required at the organizer’s expense. You will be contacted by Parks’ staff if you’ve requested access to electricity and it is not available/operational at the park you’ve asked to rent.
I have a question about my park permit. Who do I contact?
Contact Recreation by emailing [email protected] or by calling 905-546-3747, option 2.
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