Hamilton's Public School Board Seeks Solution for School Without a Sports Field

Strategic Insights -

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board is facing a long-standing issue with Bernie Custis Secondary School, a lower-city school without a sports field. The school, which opened in 2019, shares a small green space with the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre and uses the CFL field across the street when available. The lack of a field has been deemed "inequitable" by trustee Maria Felix Miller, who chairs the board. The original plan was to have students use Brightside Park, a green space and sports field set to be built on the old Dominion Glass factory property, but the construction timeline has been pushed back to 2028. This has prompted renewed efforts to find a solution, including considering the feasibility of constructing an artificial turf on existing city-owned green space or paying to use the neighbouring stadium.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board is attempting to address the issue of Bernie Custis Secondary School lacking a sports field.
  • The school, which opened in 2019, has been sharing a small green space with the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre and using the CFL field across the street when available.
  • Trustee Maria Felix Miller has stated that the lack of a field is "inequitable" and has been working on finding a solution.
  • The original plan was to have students use Brightside Park, but the construction timeline has been pushed back to 2028.
  • The board is considering the feasibility of constructing an artificial turf on existing city-owned green space or paying to use the neighbouring stadium.
  • The stadium was built with $145 million in public funds, including $50 million from the city, and was intended to be used by youth sports organizations and other community groups.
  • The stadium has only recently hit its target of 1,100 hours of annual community use.
  • Bernie Custis football team clients have said not having a home field is a disadvantage.
  • A school field would provide space for day-to-day school activities, like gym class and events, that don't need a full field.
  • Principal Timothy Powell has stated that there have been conversations around adding basketball courts and other student-friendly amenities, should the board partner with the city.

Statistics:

  • The stadium was built with $145 million in public funds, including $50 million from the city.
  • The stadium has hit its target of 1,100 hours of annual community use after over a decade.
  • The construction timeline for Brightside Park has been pushed back to 2028.
  • Bernie Custis Secondary School opened in 2019.
  • 400 free hours are allotted to Bernie Custis sports teams at the Tim Hortons Field.

Sources:

  • Kate McCullough, "Hamilton's public school board tries to address a long-standing problem: a school with no sports field", The Hamilton Spectator, [No date provided].
  • "Hamilton's public school board tries to address a long-standing problem: a school with no sports field", The Hamilton Spectator, [No date provided].
  • "King George School: History and Significance", City of Hamilton, [No date provided].
  • "Brightside Park: A Green Space for Everyone", City of Hamilton, [No date provided].
  • "Tim Hortons Field: History and Significance", City of Hamilton, [No date provided].