Green City

Cootes Paradise National Park?

By Jason Leach
Published March 11, 2005

It could very well happen, according to a recent article in the Dundas Star News.

Many Hamiltonians have no idea about the amazing diversity of plants, fish and wildlife that exist mere minutes from our downtown core. Designating Cootes Paradise as a national park would make it the first urban national park in the country.

What a perfect complement to the Canada Marine Discovery Centre on the west harbour, which is Parks Canada's first urban marine museum.

As has been said many times in Raise The Hammer, this city needs to look to our amazing natural setting as a way to rebrand Hamilton's image. Portland, Oregon has a rose garden and one waterfall and everywhere you go, people ask "have you been to the rose garden? Have you been to Multnomah Falls?"

Hamilton is home to over two dozen waterfalls, a harbour, lake and escarpment, yet we refuse to tell the outside world of the amazing natural resources that abound in our city.

Not only could our city use the image boost, but if we could draw more attention to our natural blessings it might help to put pressure on city council to stop making unwise decisions that threaten, and in some cases destroy, these spectacular areas.

One can only hope that someday we can tell the rest of the province and country to come visit the Cootes Paradise National Park, right in the heart of Hamilton.

Jason Leach was born and raised in the Hammer and currently lives downtown with his wife and children. You can follow him on twitter.

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