Students will soon be allowed to play on former Hamilton high school's sprawling lawn, unused for 7 years

For the first time since 2019, kids will be allowed to play and run around on the sprawling lawn at the former Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School in the middle of downtown Hamilton. 

In an agreement with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), Coun. Cameron Kroetsch told city council's public works committee he will use Ward 2 reserves to pay $60,000 for a new fence around the field.

It will then be safe in September for elementary students attending Hess Street school across the street to use. There's no green space in the K-8 school yard besides a small turf field. 

"My question routinely [to HWDSB] is, 'can't we do something with this land?'" said Kroestch. "The answer is, 'yes we can.'" 

His motion was approved unanimously by the committee on May 20, with council getting final say this upcoming Wednesday. 

The school board will extend crossing guard hours at the busy Hess Street North and Cannon Street West intersection to help groups of students safely cross as they make their way to and from the field, Kroestch said.

Coun. Jeff Beattie, a former HWDSB trustee, said he's "keenly aware" of the limitations at Hess Street school.

"This is a really, really creative idea, kind of like, 'duh, why didn't we do this before' moment," he said at public works. "I can't say enough good things about this and I happily, happily support it." 

A downtown sore spot

The three-hectare property has sat unused since HWDSB closed the high school seven years ago. The board told CBC Hamilton in 2023 that it spends about $135,000 a year to maintain the Sir John A. Macdonald property. 

Kroestch said he's asked about it often by residents who are confused as to why such a large piece of land can sit vacant amid an affordable housing and homelessness crisis.

His usual response is that the province, through the school board, has the ultimate say about what happens with the land, not the city, and there's not much he or staff can do to spur development, he said at the public works meeting.

"The province refuses to move on it," Kroetsch said. 

Closing the high school was part of HWDSB's plan to replace it with a new elementary school and community hub, including a child care centre. But the Ministry of Education has denied the $30-million funding request four times between 2017 to 2022. 

The ministry did not respond to a request for comment. 

In a letter to HWDSB in May 2022, obtained by CBC Hamilton through a freedom of information request, Ministry of Education assistant deputy minister Didem Proulx said demand for capital funding was "significant" with 290 requests from 58 school boards that year.

"After careful review of your board's submissions, the ministry does not approve funding," she wrote. 

No other reason was given in the letter.

Kroestch said last week HWDSB is currently working on a fifth application to redevelop the site.

HWDSB did not provide a comment before publication.