Lakeland facility to open this month.
By KEVIN WERNER
NEWS STAFF
Hamilton Mountain News
December 2,2005
Hamilton's beach residents will be getting an early Christmas present from the Hamilton Waterfront Trust when the Lakeland Community Center opens this month.
The $2.3 million facility, which initially broke ground a year ago, will offer residents an outdoor heated pool that is 1.8 meters deep; a nautical-themed splash pad and waiting area for adults that will be free to residents; public washrooms; showers and change rooms; a second-floor community room, with an impressive view of Lake Ontario, which on a clear day you can see Toronto and can accommodate about 150 people; an area for refreshments; and a distinctive 30-foot viewing tower. There will be about 300 parking spaces surrounding the facility located on 7 acres of land off Van Wagner's Beach Road, along the popular Hamilton Beach Trail, to accommodate large groups of people and visitors to the facility.
At night, said Hamilton councillor Chad Collions, the idea will be to install ground spot lights that will bath the facility, especially the tower, in a white glow that will be seen for miles turning it into a community night light.
The initial design for the centre proposed to relocate the beachfront lighthouse to the former Lakeland Community site. But after investigating the cost, Waterfront Trust officials decided it wasn't worth the work nor the expense.
It is the tower that has drawn a lot of attention from the public either from the nearby Queen Elizabeth Way or from residents in the Beach community as construction nears the end.
The building is constructed with a beige white cedar exterior and a stone facade that is called 'Old Mill', creating an interesting contrast, said Project Manager Eric Hess.
The facility's design, such as the sunburst windows, are similar to other Hamilton Waterfront Trust buildings that have been constructed along the waterfront, said Mr. Hess. Trust officials wanted to make sure the buildings are distinctive, providing a consistent design along the waterfront for visitors, he said.
The facility is accessible for the physically challenged, which includes an indoor elevator, he said.
The long-awaited facility has had it share of delays and construction obstacles, said Mr. Hess
Photos- The view from the top of the cupola.