Hamilton, says a local architect.

Mr. John Gardner, senior partner with architects Cooper and Gardner, got out a map of the city and a set of coloured pens in honour of the 200th anniversary of the Corporation.

"I don't want to put a damper on the festivities,'' Mr. Gardner told The Royal Gazette . "This is a fun thought. It has serious potential to it, but it should be seen as being for fun.'' Mr. Gardner's plan involves the use of landscaping to create a pedestrian route from the Hamilton waterfront through Par-La-Ville Park and the City Hall grounds, through Victoria Park, and up Cedar Avenue, Laffan Street, and North Street to the new park proposed at the Pembroke Dump.

The walk could then continue south down a newly-landscaped Court Street back to Front Street, with a new square proposed in the area of Union and Dundonald streets. Additional landscaping along Church Street and Par-La-Ville Road would further help to link green spaces in the city.

The streets would still be open to traffic as they are now, but more green space would be added between the buildings and the roads.

"What it does, especially with the continued new construction of bigger buildings and so on, is it just creates that spatial relief from the City, where you can go and sit in a park,'' Mr. Gardner said.

"The Corporation is doing a very good job -- this town is nicely landscaped,'' Mr. Gardner said. "But let's really take a look at the spaces in between. Let's make it something special.'' As well as an amenity for residents, "it would make the City more interesting for visitors''.

In particular, a linked park system would draw visitors into areas of town most of them never see. By landscaping both sides of the street from the Transport Control Department as far as Victoria or Church streets, "Court Street could be a complete destination which would draw people through town''.

Relocating the TCD building would help the plan, allowing Court Street to be linked with the new park planned at the dump.

Parts of the plan could be expensive, but if done over time, they do not have to be, he said. Moving the City Hall car park underground would allow for a proper public square there, he said. Ideally, the Par-La-Ville car park would be moved underground as well.

Mr. Gardner chairs the built environment sub-committee for the Premier's Commission on Competitiveness, but stressed the views he expressed were personal.

The plan, or something similar to it, could be adopted the next time the development plan for the City of Hamilton is updated.

PARKS PLAN -- Architect Mr. John Gardner says a connecting parks system in Hamilton -- including new parks at City Hall, Par-La-Ville and Union Square -- would make the city more attractive to residents and visitors alike.