Hamilton East already thriving
A range of new equipment has been installed, along with a fence around the majority of the playground to ensure the safety of children enjoying it, Sheedy said.
The Hamilton East Community Trust has taken the lead and organised an opening event on June 4 at 11am.
The new playground is only one of many projects to rejuvenate Steele Park.
There are plans to upgrade the public toilets, add a barbecue area, additional seating, refresh the exterior of the pavilion, and in the long-term, explore the replacement of the Steele Park Pavilion with a heritage-themed building, and makeover the WEL Network Substation.
There were also plans to implement the Grey St-Hamilton Gardens Avenue of Trees.
Hamilton East has also been prioritised in the River Plan, with an objective to enhance connections from the suburb to the river and central city, executed through a potential pedestrian bridge.
Hamilton City Councillor for the East Ward Garry Mallett voted against the Hamilton East Neighbourhood Plan when it was approved for consolation in July 2016.
He says Hamilton East is already thriving, as long as council keeps their ‘‘sticky fingers’’ out of it.
‘‘Council tends to stuff a lot things up... fortunately, council has been light-handed there up until now.’’
He said although the new playground was a positive, with all initiatives comes a minus and a plus.
The minus for the Hamilton East Neighbourhood Plan was the cost, especially with council’s major funding constraints, he said.
He can also foresee future issues with the proposed Avenue of Trees.
‘‘Those trees are absolutely stunning but man alive are they problematic. The roots play havoc with our roading and footpaths.
‘‘There is a cost to the beauty,’’ Mallett said.